Worried about someone? If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999. Safeguarding team: safe@cacs.org.uk · 07300 319055
Report a concern‘The human person is of such magnificent beauty and marvellous capacity’
St Teresa of Avila
St Teresa of Avila
We recognise every individual as a gift from God, and we value and encourage their safe participation in all activities that enhance their spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development.
Statement on safeguarding
At CACS we are committed to creating sacred and safe spaces where that lived capacity is awakened, nurtured and protected. We are committed to ensuring their safety and well-being. For us, safeguarding is a core part of our mission to always be a safe and sacred community. Carmelite spirituality is founded on a deep thirst for spiritual intimacy and friendship, recognising the divine indwelling in every single person. Because of this, we see every encounter as a kind of theophany — a manifestation of God that must be respected and safeguarded. The dignity and sacredness of each person is paramount. For us, safeguarding work takes many dimensions. It is not just a policy on a shelf or a box-ticking exercise. Instead, we are committed to promoting a genuine spirituality of care. As an international community of friars, laity, experts and volunteers, this work is challenging and demanding. But it is a journey we are committed to. A journey towards creating a sacred and safe place for spiritual growth, formation and wholeness for everyone.
Fr Alexander Ezechukwu, OCD
Director of CACS; Chair of Safeguarding Committee
Watch our safeguarding video
Safeguarding at the Centre for Applied Carmelite Spirituality
Made for Our Last Safeguarding Sunday.
This video describes the place and importance of safeguarding at the Centre.
This video describes the place and importance of safeguarding at the Centre.
Watch on YouTubeOpens in a new tab.
Document library
Our safeguarding policies, guidance and resources in eight sections. Open a section to see its documents.
Section A
The Leadership of Safeguarding
Who leads safeguarding at CACS, and how responsibility and accountability are shared.
View 6 documentsHide documents
- Statement of commitment to safeguarding by Fr Alex, Director of CACS
- Statement on safeguarding by the Anglo-Irish Discalced Carmelite Province
- Visual chart of safeguarding leads, the CACS Safeguarding Committee and contact details
- Safeguarding – an integral part of the Church’s mission: talk by Fr Hans Zollner SJ, January 2026
- The 8 Safeguarding Standards
- Leadership organisations in Catholic safeguarding
Section B
Responding to Those Who Have Been Harmed
How we listen to and support those who have been harmed, and what they can expect from us.
View 7 documentsHide documents
- CACS statement to survivors
- Support organisations for survivors of abuse
- RLSS spiritual abuse pamphlet
- Safe Spaces pamphlet
- Support organisations for survivors in the UK and US
- Safeguarding referral chart – how we respond to allegations of abuse
- Safeguarding prayer
Section C
Safeguarding and Security Policies
The policies that guide how we keep children, young people and adults at risk safe in all our work.
View 13 documentsHide documents
- Main safeguarding policy
- Safer recruitment policy
- Statement on international safeguarding
- DBS and police checks
- Handling disclosures
- Data handling and record keeping
- Cyber security policy
- Modern slavery policy
- Complaints policy
- Whistleblowing policy
- Code of conduct
- Social media policy
- Letters of endorsement
Section D
Training and Guidance Information for CACS Members / How to Report Allegations of Abuse
Training and guidance for CACS members, and the steps to take when reporting an allegation of abuse.
View 5 documentsHide documents
- CACS guide for friars on safeguarding
- CACS guide for UK spiritual directors on safeguarding
- CACS guide for US spiritual directors on safeguarding
- Guide for Sacred Encounter Ministers on the protocol for ministering in SEM as a spiritual director or pastoral supervisor
- Joining the Dots training on becoming a trauma-informed therapist
Section E
Key Vatican Documents and Links to the Three Safeguarding Bodies
Key Vatican documents on safeguarding, with links to the three safeguarding bodies.
Section F
CACS Safeguarding Presentations
Presentations from the International Safeguarding Conference 2026.
View 2 presentationsHide presentations
Section H
CACS Safeguarding Handbooks
Every friar, spiritual director, SDFP student, Sacred Encounter Ministry volunteer and directee ministering or studying with CACS works to a given safeguarding standard. Log in to find the handbook that covers you and the country you minister in.
Access requires login details, with a signup to CACS Safeguarding Updates.
Click to Find Your Handbook
Section G
Report a Concern
We take every report of harassment, sexual misconduct or a safeguarding concern seriously.
How to reportClose
If anyone is in immediate danger, call the police on 999.
Open the online report formCACS Safeguarding Team
Kate Keefe, Fr Liam Finnerty OCD, Fr Clement Obiorah OCD
Independent support
Safe Spaces 0300 303 1056
Rape Crisis (24/7) 0808 500 2222
MACSAS 08088 010340
‘The human person is of such magnificent beauty and marvellous capacity’
St. Teresa of Avila
At CACS we are committed to creating sacred and safe spaces where that lived capacity is awakened, nurtured and protected.
Section A – The leadership of Safeguarding
Section B – Responding to survivors
Section C – Safeguarding and Security Policies
Section D – Training and guidance information for CACS members / How to report allegations of abuse
Section E – Key Vatican documents and links to the three Safeguarding bodies
Section F – CACS safeguarding presentations
Online report form
We take every report of harassment, sexual misconduct or a safeguarding concern seriously. Choose how you would like to report — the form opens here on this page.
“The human person is of such magnificent beauty and marvellous capacity.”St Teresa of Ávila
Thank you — your report has been received
Please keep this reference code. You can quote it to add information or ask about progress.
A safeguarding lead will review your report. To follow up, email safe@cacs.org.uk quoting your code. If you would like support now, the services below are available independently of CACS.
Independent support — Safe Spaces 0300 303 1056 · Rape Crisis 0808 500 2222 (24/7) · MACSAS 08088 010340
CACS Safeguarding Team — safe@cacs.org.uk · 07300 319055 · Kate Keefe, Fr Liam Finnerty OCD, Fr Clement Obiorah OCD
OCD Safeguarding Lead (Anglo-Irish Province) — Fr Thaddeus Ekuma, OCD · ibnthed@gmail.com · +44 7438 916700
Immediate danger — Police 999 · Independent support — Safe Spaces 0300 303 1056 · Rape Crisis 0808 500 2222 (24/7) · MACSAS 08088 010340