UNIT 3: SAFEGUARDING AS CANON LAW

In the AOCM, Safeguarding is not just a policy; it is Canon Law.

3.1 The Non-Negotiable Standard

“Safeguarding and accountability are non-negotiable”.

  • Suspension: The Statutes make clear that safeguarding breaches are “serious canonical offences”. Suspension is “protective,” not “punitive”.
  • Reporting: There is a mandatory duty to report abuse. The “seal of the confessional” is respected, but clergy are trained on the complex ethics of this in the Safeguarding Course (Safeguarding for Clergy A1 and M2).
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