To whom it concerns
The Catholic Church, through the offices of the Irish Episcopal Conference (IEC) and the Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland (AMRI), has commissioned RSM Ireland, to undertake a Strategic Review of Child Safeguarding in the Catholic Church in Ireland. This is an external review which will include, as an essential component, the voice of victims and survivors of abuse.
It is critical to the Review that any findings and recommendations made properly reflect and account for the experiences that survivors have had in their dealings with the Church. Specifically, we are seeking to engage with survivors who have disclosed their abuse within the last 20 years to determine what the Church is currently doing well, and which aspects of the Church’s response could be improved upon. This consultation began in October this year and will continue for another week.
If you are willing to engage with the process please click on the link below which will bring you to the online survey, which will capture survivors’ stories and their attitudes towards the Church’s response to their disclosures. Upon clicking the link, participants will initially be brought to a page seeking their consent and outlining that their participation is fully anonymous.
We are fully aware that engaging in this process may be difficult for many, and request that only those that feel fully comfortable to participate do so. It is emphasised that this survey should not be used to make previously undisclosed allegations of abuse, which should be done through the normal reporting channels and to the statutory agencies as necessary. The survey itself will highlight the many supports that are available to survivors of abuse, should they be needed.
For anyone unable to complete this survey online, please contact Survivor.Consultation@rsmireland.ie to get a copy of the survey sent out in the post.
