Safeguarding Education
CMSM is committed to supporting safeguarding through ongoing education for male religious institutes. Our primary programs:
Safeguarding Curriculum
CMSM is in the process of creating a series of resources dedicated to helping those in religious leadership navigate all the fundamental demands of safeguarding ministry. These resources are slated to to be ready in late 2022.
Annual Safeguarding Workshop
This 2-1/2 day workshop held in late October provides in-depth dialogue, practical content from experts engaged in safeguarding, and an opportunity to connect and network with others engaged in safeguarding for religious institutes. The workshop covers topics for:
- Supervisors
- Victim Assistance Coordinators
- Review Board leaders, members, and administrators
Visit CMSM’s event calendar for upcoming workshop information.
Conversations that Matter
Each year, the Jesuit Conference produces a case study focusing on safeguarding/behavioral health issues, which is made available to male religious institutes through a partnership with CMSM. Each case study includes a facilitator’s guide, narrative/video (to download or watch online), discussion questions and other resources for three groups: men in formation, men in active apostolic ministry, and men in retirement.
Learn more and preview the materials for 2019 and 2020. Starting in 2021, the Jesuit Conference is offering materials directly online at no cost for CMSM members. CMSM members can contact the Jesuit Conference directly or Chris Pierno at CMSM, for login details.
Our Commitment
The Conference of Major Superiors of Men is committed to prevention, accountability, healing, and reconciliation.
Religious communities and institutes for consecrated life, as with all Church organizations, must ensure that children and young people who worship, study, or participate in activities sponsored by our communities do so in the safest and most secure setting possible and proactively ensure that those who have abused are prevented from causing further harm to others.
To support religious communities in fulfilling their responsibility to safety, CMSM has partnered with Praesidium to develop national standards, and provides ongoing education and leadership through our Director of Safeguarding Initiatives.