As a Cathedral, we welcome the publication of the Past Cases Review 2. PCR2 was launched nationally by the Church of England in the summer of 2019. It came about after independent scrutiny of the original Past Cases Review of 2008 and 2009 considered that this process had not been carried out thoroughly enough. The purpose of the PCR2 is to ensure that all known cases or concerns about the behaviour of clergy and church officers towards adults, children and vulnerable adults have been dealt with appropriately. The national report is available on the Church of England website here: www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding/past-cases-review-2

As part of the PCR 2 process, the Diocese of Rochester has undertaken an independent safeguarding review across all its churches, Cathedral and key institutions.

You will be able to find an overview of Rochester Diocese’s independent report in the Reports and Reviews section of our Safeguarding pages: www.rochester.anglican.org/safeguarding/reports-and-reviews/

Support available

Publication of the report could of course be a trigger for those in our congregations and communities who have been affected by abuse - whether within a church context or not, whether now or in the past.

Detail information about the help available, including the Diocesan Safeguarding Team can be found: www.rochester.anglican.org/safeguarding/

Additionally, you may find it helpful to be aware of the following

Safe Spaces

Safe Spaces is an independent service supporting survivors of church-related abuse. This independent service is run by Splitz Support Service, which has been providing advocacy services for over 30 years and has previous experience in supporting victims and survivors of Church-related abuse.

The Safe Spaces initiative is funded by the Church of England together with the Catholic Church in England and Wales and the Church in Wales. It is free to access via telephone - 0300 303 1056 (answerphone available outside of opening times), email - safespaces@splitz.org or visit: www.safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk

Survivors Voices PCR 2 ‘Open Space’

The victim/survivor advocacy group, Survivors Voices, is inviting any victims and survivors impacted by the PCR2 report to join a team of experienced peer facilitators for a virtual 'open space' on Wednesday evening, 5th October from 7.30pm to 8.45pm.

This is a survivor-only space for anyone to share their initial responses and reactions to the report, in a mutually supportive space.  Any survivors interested should contact Survivors Voices directly on: jane@survivorsvoices.org

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As a Cathedral we remain committed to becoming a safer Church and to learning from and acting upon the findings of the national and diocesan PCR 2 report. We continue to hold in prayer all victims and survivors of abuse:

Holy God, teach us to thirst for righteousness and for justice in our Church.

Merciful God, we cry to you. We lament the safeguarding failings of your Church.

Gracious God, help us to hear the voices of victims and survivors of abuse and reabuse, and to make the profound changes needed in your Church.

Compassionate God, help us to repair broken lives so that those who have been damaged by the Church may no longer just survive but thrive.

Amen

The Very Rev'd Dr Philip Hesketh AKC DL