Bringing it Home- A Reflection on Safeguarding
By Fr. Silas Kemboi, SJ
I recently had a conversation with a religious friend, during which I shared my new mission as part of the province’s safeguarding team. His immediate question was, “Do you still have many white people in your congregations?” This caught me off guard. For him, most religious congregations that still have many whites are the ones that talk more about protection and safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.
This question sparked a deeper discussion about the terms “safeguarding” and “protection.” It took me back to the first workshop I ever attended as a Jesuit on the protection and safeguarding of children and the vulnerable. I am not sure it was due to how the topics were presented, their newness to us, or simply fear, many of us were defensive. Like my friend, many of us who attended the meeting felt like safeguarding and protection policies were some impositions from without and not within.
I must admit that, over time and through numerous workshops, the perspectives and attitude of many of us (Jesuits in the province) have somehow shifted. We are waking up to the reality that abuse is indeed an issue in our context. It is also a fact that there are some who still view protection and safeguarding policies as foreign impositions. I hope this group will one day crossover.
Our conversation ended on a hopeful note. We agreed that although safeguarding measures can sometimes feel overly legalistic and intimidating, the truth is that the abuse of children and vulnerable adults is a real and pressing issue. My friend, with his background as a priest, educator, and counselor, acknowledged that he is in a good position to help raise awareness. We hope to collaborate in the near future.
I am convinced that as individuals who work in and with communities, we must continue to have these important conversations about safeguarding and protection. We need to “bring it home” by contextualizing and integrating these policies into our local reality. The more we do this, the closer we come to creating what Pope Francis has called a “consistent culture of protection and safeguarding.” It’s vital to remember that each of us has a role in bringing it home.
