Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Although only in the Diocese of Dunkeld for a short time it falls to me as your Bishop to make our Annual Safeguarding Statement.
As we move forward, I wish to assure you that the safeguarding of all who worship within and visit our parishes, will continue to be a priority of diocesan and parish life. ‘In God’s Image’, the instruction on safeguarding in the Catholic Church in Scotland, aims to ensure that we strive to pursue the highest standards.
Over the next few months, I plan to visit each of our parishes. Recently, I took the opportunity of attending a meeting of Parish Safeguarding Coordinators held within our Diocese. I was very impressed with the commitment shown by those involved to their important ministries and also the amount of work being done in the name of safeguarding within our Diocese.
I wish to give my thanks to Canon Kevin Golden as Diocesan Administrator as well as to Mr. John Smith our Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor, who along with Mr. Roger Bromage and members of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Group have led the safeguarding efforts of the Diocese through the period of ‘Sede Vacante’.
In addition, I wish to express my gratitude to clergy, parish safeguarding coordinators, group leaders, and volunteers, as we work together to ensure that our people, places and activities within our parishes are safe.
As always at this point in the year, we reach out to all survivors of abuse within the Catholic Church. There is no time limit for those who have suffered to come forward and tell us of their experience of abuse. We are committed to offering the best support possible to anyone who seeks our help.
We ask that you continue to keep in your prayers all survivors of abuse as we pray for their healing and recovery.
With every good wish,
Yours in Christ,
Bishop Andrew McKenzie
Bishop of Dunkeld