Office for the Safeguarding of Minors and Vulnerable Adults

About us

This office is an expression of the Friars Minor's desire to commit themselves “to living as brothers of all, respecting the dignity of every human person.” For this reason, it works to protect minors and vulnerable adults from abuse in its various forms (of power, psychological, spiritual, and sexual), and to ensure a just and compassionate response to anyone who has directly or indirectly suffered such abuse (Mandate no. 9 of the 2021 General Chapter).

The tasks of the Office for the Safeguarding are:

• to promote and coordinate, with adequate means and initiatives, all activities for the safeguarding of minors and vulnerable adults in the pastoral realities and spaces entrusted to the Order, so that they can be “safe environments for all the people of God, especially for the most vulnerable” (n. 18 of the Final Document of the General Chapter 2021);
• to ensure that victims of abuse are welcomed with respect and due attention, offering them transparent and reliable procedures;
• to offer advice to those responsible in the Entities of the Order in matters relating to prevention training and the accompaniment of all the friars and lay collaborators in the works of the Order;
• to propose to the entire Order aids and training programs that deepen the theological, pastoral and Franciscan dimension of listening to victims and the safeguarding of minors and vulnerable adults.

Documents

Manual for the topic of safeguarding of minors and vulnerable adults in Ongoing and Initial Formation
Recommendations for drafting a safeguarding policy and procedures for OFM
Letter concerning abuse of authority and power in the Order
Practical steps to follow when an allegation reaches the Minister or Custos