Key National Catholic Safeguarding Documents
Integrity in Our Common Mission
In response to the final report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Recommendation 16.49, and in continuance of those initiatives already in place to guide the variety of pastoral ministries in the Church, Integrity in Our Common Mission has been developed as the primary code of conduct for clergy, religious and laity. The principles in Integrity in Our Common Mission have been developed to guide, form, strengthen and affirm those behaviours which are expected of all engaged in the ministries of the Church: in parish and sacramental life, education, health and community services, pastoral care, social welfare support and the variety of other ministries to which people of faith are called.
Our Common Mission is for everyone involved in Catholic ministry and service.
Our Common Mission is grounded in a strengths-based approach to safeguarding and integrity. It includes responsibilities (mandatory reporting, supervision, reporting boundary violations, acting within expertise) that, if breached, may result in criminal or professional proceedings. Our Common Mission does not include specific guidance for addressing unacceptable or criminal behaviour. Standard 6 of the NCSS addresses processes for raising concerns and complaints.
Vos Estis Lux Mundi (VELM) – The Apostolic Letter issued Motu Proprio by the Supreme Pontiff Francis on 7 May 2019 became universal law operative as from 1 June 2019. VELM norms apply to reports received by clerics and members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life regarding crimes of sexual abuse by clerics and members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life and the concealing of crimes of sexual abuse by Bishops and their equivalents
An updated version of the Motu Proprio came into force on 30 April 2023. It replaces the 2019 version and confirms the Church’s desire to combat crimes of sexual abuse.
The most significant change introduced in the new version of the normative text concerns the provisions in “Title II” which lay out the responsibilities of bishops, religious superiors, and clerics in charge of a particular Church or Prelature.
The updated text specifies that “the lay faithful who are or have been moderators of international associations of the faithful recognized or created by the Apostolic See [are responsible] for acts committed” while they were in office.
Another notable modification regards the inclusion of “vulnerable” adults in the normative text.
The previous version referred to “sexual acts with a minor or a vulnerable person”. However, the updated text speaks of “a crime against the Sixth Commandment of the Decalogue committed with a minor, or with a person who habitually has an imperfect use of reason, or with a vulnerable adult.”
Another change concerns the protection of the person who submits a report of alleged abuse. Whereas the earlier text stated that no constraint of silence may be imposed on the person who reports alleged abuse, this protection has now been extended to “the person who claims to have been offended and those who were witnesses.”
Additionally, the text strengthens calls to safeguard “the legitimate protection of the good name and privacy of all persons involved,” as well as the presumption of innocence for those who are under investigation during the period in which determinations of responsibility are underway.
The updated version of Vos estis lux mundi also specifies that dioceses and eparchies must operate an “organisation or office” (the earlier version spoke in general about a “stable system”) which is easily accessible to the public in order to receive reports of cases of abuse. It also clarifies that the task of proceeding with the investigation lies under the responsibility of the bishop or Ordinary of the place where the reported events allegedly took place.
Please contact the IPSS Manager at ipss@cg.org.au if you have any questions on any of the above documents.