A new Safeguarding Policy setting higher standards for Church entities and placing the welfare of alleged victims at the centre of investigations has been published by the Church in Malta and Gozo.
The new policy, establishing safeguarding standards that all Church entities are expected to uphold and formalising safeguarding structures for handling allegations made against clerics and lay people, has been signed off by Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna, Gozo Bishop Anton Teuma, and the provincials of the Conference of Major Religious Superiors.
Key measures include setting up structures to ensure impartial preliminary investigations and risk assessments, improved recruitment procedures, and a new code of conduct setting clear expectations for appropriate behaviour and interactions by Church personnel, both online and in person.
The new policy replaces the original one established in 2015 when the Safeguarding Commission was set up.
Head of Safeguarding Mark Pellicano said: “The new policy — which is the result of extensive consultations with victims, safeguarding experts, Church entity leaders, and regulatory bodies — reaffirms the Church’s unwavering commitment to strengthening its protective measures and investigative function.
“The policy details the preventive work the Church should focus on, establishes safe recruitment guidelines, and outlines the regular safeguarding training that all Church personnel should attend to create an environment that is safer, more inclusive and supportive for all.
“We have also broadened the scope of the policy, which was previously mainly focused on sexual abuse, to incorporate other safeguarding concerns including emotional, spiritual, physical and online transgressions, with a particular focus on the safeguarding of minors and vulnerable adults.
“Responsibility, accountability, transparency and integrity lie at the heart of the new policy, which marks a critical reaffirmation that the journey to a safer Church requires the active participation and commitment of every member.”
Mr Pellicano said safeguarding principles and practices were continuously evolving, and that the Church must remain alert to changes taking place in this field.
“The policy emphasises that the journey towards a safer Church is an ongoing one, and we intend to continue to review the policy during the course of its implementation and make changes when necessary.”
About the Safeguarding Commission
The Safeguarding Commission was founded in February 2015 by the Archdiocese of Malta, the Diocese of Gozo and the Conference of Religious Major Superiors – replacing the Response Team set up by the local Church in 1999 which focused on conducting preliminary inquiries into allegations of sexual abuse by pastoral functionaries. The Safeguarding Commission promotes prevention of all types of abuse through increased awareness and positive action, and aims to foster a culture where minors and vulnerable adults are at the centre of the Church’s pastoral work. The Commission works closely with civil authorities and statutory agencies, in particular the Malta Police Force and the Child Protection Directorate, to ensure the wellbeing of minors and vulnerable adults. The Gozo Diocese set up its own Safeguarding Commission in 2022.