Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults is central to our mission and values. We recognise and follow the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) policy and procedures. You can find information about  the Diocesan Safeguarding Team and how to contact them on the Diocesan website. Our parish safeguarding representative is:

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Desi O'Rourke

 

Her contact details are: 

PSR.portishead.stjoseph@cliftondiocese.com for St Joseph, Portishead

PSR.nailsea.stfrancisofassisi@cliftondiocese.com for St Francis, Nailsea 

 

Reporting abuse
If you are concerned about the welfare of a child or adult at risk, do not delay in contacting the police, using 999 if a child or adult is believed to be in immediate danger.

It is the policy of the Catholic Church in England and Wales to report all allegations of abuse to statutory authorities, regardless of whether the abuse occurred recently or in the past, or whether the accused person is living or deceased.

If you are in any role within the Catholic Church in England and Wales, you must refer allegations directly to the safeguarding office for your diocese or religious congregation, or directly to the Police.

If you are a member of the public, please refer allegations directly to the police and also to our safeguarding Co-ordinator Janice Pearson at janice.pearson@cliftondiocese.com 0117 954 0993

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​Message from the Bishop

Safeguarding is among the most sacred responsibilities entrusted to the Church. It flows from the Gospel itself, where Christ gathers the little ones to his heart and commands his disciples to protect them. To guard the vulnerable is to honour the image of God in every person, and to keep the Church faithful to her calling as a place of holiness, compassion, and trust.

In the Diocese of Clifton, this sacred duty continues to shape and sustain all that we do. As the Jubilee of Hope draws to its close, we carry forward the hope it has kindled, a hope rooted in Christ’s healing grace, and in our shared desire that the Church be ever a safe and nurturing home for all. Guided by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency, our diocesan commitment is not only to prevent harm but to foster a culture where every person can grow in the peace and security of God’s care.

Safeguarding is never a matter of administration alone; it is a ministry of love and protection. There can be no place in the Church for abuse, harm, or neglect. Where sin has wounded, the Lord calls us to repentance and reparation. Where people have suffered, we must listen with compassion, act with integrity, and walk with them on the path of healing.

I am deeply grateful to all who serve in safeguarding across our parishes, schools, and diocesan ministries. Through your vigilance, patience, and care, you make visible the mercy of Christ himself. I also wish to honour the courage of survivors whose voices summon us to deeper conversion. Through them, Christ speaks again to his Church, calling her to humility, vigilance, and purity of heart.

May the Lord Jesus, who gathers the lost and lifts the broken, bring healing and peace to all who have been harmed, and make his Church a place where every wound is met with compassion, every story is heard with reverence, and every person finds safety in his redeeming love.

Bishop Bosco MacDonald, November 2025

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See full extract here: https://cliftondiocese.com/departments/safeguarding/

 
 

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