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Church of England Safeguarding 2025-03-03
03 March 2025
Lead MP
Luke Myer
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
Justice & CourtsNHSTaxationSafeguarding & DBS
Other Contributors: 11
At a Glance
Luke Myer raised concerns about church of england safeguarding 2025-03-03 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
I declare my role as a member of the Ecclesiastical Committee. I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss serious matters related to victims and survivors of abuse within the Church of England, emphasising the need for change in safeguarding processes. Constituents such as Dame Jasvinder Sanghera advocate for justice, and meetings with ISB 11 revealed traumatic experiences that must be addressed urgently. Survivors face prolonged judicial delays, mental health issues, and a lack of accountability from the Church, leading to further trauma. The case of Mr X highlights the need for meaningful action, as his legal battles have destroyed his livelihood. Other survivors describe persistent struggles for justice, community ostracism, and severe anxiety. These cases underscore the urgent need for consistent safeguarding standards across institutions.
Dawn Butler
Lab
Brent East
Independent safeguarding is paramount to ensure victims are heard without re-living abuse.
Mid Sussex
Mr X's case demonstrates the need for accountability from the Church of England for meaningful justice.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
The Church and charitable bodies must be held to legal standards in safeguarding practices.
Melanie Onn
Lab
Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes
Lack of accountability from the Church leads to slow justice for victims, impacting mental health.
Polly Billington
Lab
East Thanet
Greater transparency in the Church is necessary to ensure public trust and accountability.
Martin Vickers
Con
Brigg and Immingham
The hon. Member for Brigg and Immingham supported the call for the Church leadership to take decisive actions to move forward.
We need to focus on changing the structures of the Church itself, as power must be relinquished for cultural change.
Richard Baker
Lab
Glenrothes and Mid Fife
Thanking Marsha De Cordova and Luke Myer for their work to ensure accountability in safeguarding within the Church of England.
Sean Woodcock
Lab
Banbury
Safeguarding should be standard across the Church of England, not a postcode lottery.
Jonathan Davies
Lab
Mid Derbyshire
The Church must learn to balance proactive safeguarding and supporting victims with ensuring it does not take unnecessary action against individuals who may not have committed crimes.
Jess Phillips
Lab
Birmingham Yardley
The Member supports the lead MP's concerns, emphasising that there should be no status protected from scrutiny in safeguarding children. She commits to meeting representatives of the Charity Commission to discuss and address any impediments.
Government Response
Justice & CourtsNHSTaxationSafeguarding & DBS
Government Response
The Second Church Estates Commissioner responded by acknowledging the critical issues raised regarding safeguarding within the Church of England. The Minister emphasised the ongoing efforts to enhance transparency, accountability, and support for survivors. Specific funding announcements were not made but the government committed to working closely with the Church to implement robust safeguarding measures in line with secular standards. The response highlighted the importance of addressing past failings and ensuring justice for victims through collaborative actions involving legal frameworks and organisational reforms. The Second Church Estates Commissioner, Marsha De Cordova, acknowledged the debate's importance and the challenges faced by victims of abuse within the Church. She expressed support for survivors being treated with dignity and respect and emphasised the need for perpetrators to be held accountable. The Minister noted the storm engulfing the Church since the publication of the Makin report and highlighted the lack of consistency and transparency in the Church’s approach to safeguarding. She called for a time when confidence in the Church's safeguarding practices would be fully restored. The minister's response is missing from the provided transcript. The debate included speeches by MPs raising concerns about safeguarding failures and structural issues in the Church of England, but a complete response from a government minister was not given. I thank everyone for their contributions. The Church of England is not alone in facing safeguarding issues but how it reacts and what processes are put in place matter. I condemn acts of abuse against both adults and children, including those occurring within religious settings. It is crucial that victims do not suffer further harm due to institutional failures. We are committed to tackling all forms of abuse wherever they occur. The Government supports the implementation of mandatory reporting, which will help address abuse in religious settings and smaller religious groups. The Government have introduced a mandatory duty for those working with children to report sexual abuse and exploitation, which will include the Church. The Minister acknowledges the importance of implementing this commitment in the Crime and Policing Bill. She also mentions plans to make grooming an aggravating factor, toughen sentencing guidelines, set up a victims and survivors panel, and implement the recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). The Government is committed to safeguarding children and protecting them from harm in all settings, with measures such as updating statutory guidance for safeguarding and introducing the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. She commits to meeting representatives of the Charity Commission to discuss any impediments regarding the roles of trustees within cathedrals.
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House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.