Decree – Instruction on Safeguarding

DECREE

Promulgation of the Instruction on Safeguarding
“In God’s Image”


Whereas preventing and dealing with the abuse of children and vulnerable adults at risk within the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland requires comprehensive provision by the Church’s own competent authorities in full collaboration with the relevant civil statutory authorities;


Whereas in 2018 each Bishop sought to do so by adopting the Instruction “In God’s Image” ad experimentum;


Whereas various amendments were proposed to that Instruction in the light of the experience of applying it ad experimentum and in light of developments in law and policy in both Church and State;


Whereas, meeting in assembly on 6th JULY 2021, the Bishops of Scotland examined and approved the amended version of the Instruction;


Whereas, at the same meeting, each residential Bishop solemnly undertook to promulgate the amended Instruction by Decree on 8th SEPTEMBER 2021 for observance in his own territory;



And in view of canon 34 §§1-3 of the Code of Canon Law (1983):



I HEREBY DECREE
  1. That the amended Instruction, “In God’s Image” is duly adopted as the normative framework for Safeguarding in this Diocese of Galloway;
  2. That the amended Instruction enters into force on 8th SEPTEMBER 2021, at which point the experimental version is revoked;
  3. That the text of the Instruction be made available immediately to everyone in the Diocese with Safeguarding responsibilities;
  4. And that the text of this Decree be transmitted to those to whom the text of the Instruction is sent and be published on the Diocesan website.

Given at Ayr on 19th July 2021


+William Nolan
Bishop of Galloway


Ann Tierney
Chancellor