Church of England Safeguarding 2025-03-03

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.

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.