The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors released its first Annual Report on Safeguarding Oct. 29. The launch of the Annual Report is both a milestone and a work-in-progress. It is the first step towards a process of data gathering and reporting within the Catholic Church, which began as a request from the Holy Father, Pope Francis.
As the Holy See releases its own report on the protection of minors, the Archdiocese of Edmonton continues actively to ensure and promote safe environments. The Archdiocese is committed to responding to any reports of abuse by any of our clergy, staff, or lay volunteers promptly, openly and in full co-operation with child welfare authorities and/or police.
Since 2010, more than 12,000 clergy, staff, and lay volunteers have received professional training as part of the Archdiocese of Edmonton’s commitment to safeguard against abuse and respond to allegations of abuse.
The professional training is provided by an independent third party, Praesidium Inc., which provides abuse prevention services to both public and private entities throughout North America. Training is mandatory for all clergy, Archdiocesan and parish employees, as well as all volunteers in every parish and Archdiocesan ministry.
For more information, visit our Called to Protect web page.
Police record and vulnerable sector checks are required according to the type of activity the cleric, employee, or volunteer is engaged in, in addition to completing a personal history. In certain cases, abuse prevention includes building adaptations, such as placing windows in doors so that areas are visible to the public.
The Archdiocese of Edmonton achieved Praesidium Accreditation in 2017 by meeting Praesidium’s rigorous standards for organizations that serve children, youth and vulnerable persons. The Archdiocese re-accredited for a three-year period in 2023.
Archdiocesan policies outline the response procedures to allegations of abuse. The policies are published, updated as needed, and available to the public through the Archdiocesan website. The policies follow best practices, all applicable civil and canon law, as well as the 2018 Guidelines of the Canadian Catholic Conference of Bishops, Protecting Minors from Sexual Abuse: A Call to the Catholic Faithful in Canada for Healing, Reconciliation, and Transformation.
The Archdiocese of Edmonton welcomes the Pontifical Commission’s Report as the Archdiocese continues its commitment to providing a safe environment for all persons.