1.2 Human dignity and the moral centre of safeguarding

At the moral centre of safeguarding is this conviction: every person bears God-given dignity, and it must not be violated or treated as expendable.

Safeguarding failures usually share a common pattern: the dignity of the vulnerable is quietly downgraded, and the comfort of the powerful is quietly upgraded.

You will see this downgrade in statements like:

• “It’s complicated.” (used to avoid action)
• “We must be careful not to ruin his life.” (said while ignoring the ruin already done)
• “She’s unstable.” (used to discount a discloser without process)
• “We must avoid scandal.” (used to avoid truth-telling)
• “We forgive here.” (used as a shortcut around accountability)
• “We can handle this pastorally.” (used as a substitute for safeguarding duties)

Dignity requires a different set of instincts:

• the vulnerable are not a threat to the Church; they are the Church’s responsibility
• disclosure is not “drama”; it is information that requires protection-first discipline
• the Church does not own the truth; it must serve the truth
• the Church does not “grant” accountability; it must submit to it

When dignity is treated seriously, the Church becomes a place where protection is normal, not exceptional.