Protection, Prevention, & Healing

Our Commitment

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Protection, Prevention, & Healing Our Commitment

Welcome!
- All children have the right to grow up free from abuse. The Archdiocese of Boston has made a Promise to Protect children, provide them with a Safe Environment, and respond quickly and appropriately to any concerns about possible abuse or neglect. By learning how to create and maintain a safe space, monitor activities, recognize danger and warning signs, and address concerns, our adult employees and volunteers help children stay safe everywhere.
  
  In addition to training our adults, we also help our children and youth learn how to recognize risk, stay safe, and to tell a safe adult if something feels wrong, if they are afraid, or if something happens to themselves or someone they know.
  
  We have also committed to addressing the needs of those who have suffered because of sexual abuse by clergy and others within the church, investigating and responding to all allegations of misconduct involving minors, removing abusive priests from active ministry consistent with our zero-tolerance policy, and helping abuse survivors to heal.
  
  Sexual abuse of a child is an abhorrent crime. It should never have happened, not anywhere in society and certainly not in the Catholic Church. But it did. That is something that we must never forget and must never ignore, not even for a moment. We must remain committed to helping those who were hurt and focused on preventing abuse now and in the future.
  
  No one person can solve this problem alone. The solution needs to come from the top down, the bottom up, and from all sides. To help those who were hurt and prevent abuse in the future, we all need to keep our eye on the issue. We all must remain vigilant in our efforts to keep our children safe and to care for those who were abused.
  
  Thank you and please call the Office of Pastoral Support and Child Protection at any time at 617-746-5985. You can also reach us by email at [email protected].
- Resources
- Commitment
- Protection & Prevention
- “The survivors of clergy sexual abuse, with their families and loved ones, must always be the central focus of all dimensions of our ongoing response to the crisis.”
  – Cardinal Seán
Cardinal's Message
- Greetings!
- The Catholic Church has reached a crossroads in facing one of the great evils in our world; the sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults. In this moment there is no greater imperative for the Church than to hold itself accountable for the crimes of clergy sexual abuse and the failure of those in leadership.
  
  Our commitment is firm: to protect children and vulnerable adults and to ensure that the tragedy of sexual abuse is never repeated in the Church. Our commitment to uphold the moral standard of the Church and the civil statutes in all matters concerning child safety is absolute. There is no place for compromise or equivocation concerning the welfare of children and young people. Our commitment to provide support and care for survivors is life-long in helping them to heal from the crimes committed against them.
  
  We have learned much during the past sixteen years and made sweeping and significant changes to all dimensions of the life of the Church, but we cannot be lulled into a sense of achievement that would risk complacency. It is my solemn pledge that at all times and in all places, we will be vigilant in the protection of children, our responsibility to God and the community demands nothing less.
  
  With the assurance of my prayers for you and all your loved ones,
  Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, OFM Cap
  Archbishop of Boston

Protection, Prevention, & Healing

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston

Welcome!

“The survivors of clergy sexual abuse, with their families and loved ones, must always be the central focus of all dimensions of our ongoing response to the crisis.”
– Cardinal Seán

Cardinal's Message

Greetings!

“The survivors of clergy sexual abuse, with their families and loved ones, must always be the central focus of all dimensions of our ongoing response to the crisis.” – Cardinal Seán

“The survivors of clergy sexual abuse, with their families and loved ones, must always be the central focus of all dimensions of our ongoing response to the crisis.”
– Cardinal Seán