Meeting of the General Commission for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons Held in Rome

The members of the General Commission for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons held their third meeting at the General Curia in Rome on March 3-7, 2025. Members of the Commission are Fr. Michael Farrugia O. Carm., President and General Procurator of the Order; Ms. Julie McCullough (Hib-lay); Ms. Julie Courtney (Brit-lay) (Zoom on-line); Fr. Quinn Conners, O. Carm., (PCM); and Fr. Babu Payikkattu, O. Carm., (Ind) 

The members would like to thank everyone who responded to the feedback from the Commission’s analysis of the original Safeguarding questionnaire (second phase). The Commission was impressed that many of the respondents had applied the recommendations made by the Safeguarding Commission. Presently over 70% of realties have an adequately appointed Safeguarding Delegate and almost 50% of realities have a sufficient local Safeguarding Policy.

Analysis of the safeguarding practices implemented locally throughout the Order provided the foundation for the development of a proposed universal Carmelite Safeguarding Policy with specific standards which will be presented to General Council later this year for their consideration and approval.