Safeguarding in Church: Children and Young People’s Perceptions of Safety in Religious and Other Faith-Based Settings

Abstract

Organizations that interact with children and young people have a duty of care to ensure the safety of those children and young people from any manner of abuse, particularly from child sexual abuse. Faith-based (“religious”) organizations are of particular interest due to the number of victims/survivors speaking out about their experiences of grooming, child sexual abuse, and other forms of harm in religious organizations. Focusing on addressing the risks and improving safeguarding efforts, prevention activities benefit from giving children agency and a voice. We conducted a study using two focus groups with children and young people involved with two different Christian denominations. We conducted activities and led discussions regarding their views about safety in the context of the faith-based organization with which they engage. Children and young people described different potentially unsafe situations, their likely frequency, and the level of impact such situations would have from their own point of view. They also described how they thought adults in their faith-based organization would see them. Thematic analysis of the data supported four themes related to young people’s sense of safety: concerning behavior of adults and other young people, fear of judgment by others (adults and peers), sense of or lack of empowerment due to power dynamics, and the importance of a sense of “familiarity.” Visual comparisons of the data on scatterplots suggested differences not only in the level of impact and frequency of potentially unsafe situations between young people and adults but also between the two denominations. Children and young people can provide a wealth of information regarding their safety concerns when involved in programs and services at faith-based organizations. Clergy and other faith-based organizational leaders should consider how the context in which young people are involved (including interdenominational and interfaith difference, as well as the diverse types of activities young people are involved with) can affect their safety concerns.

Young People’s Perspectives on Safety and Safety Promotion in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

“…For example, the empirical literature shows that fear of violence (Collins, 2001; De Wet et al, 2018; Fabiansson, 2007; M. R. Hughes et al, 2015; Russell et al, 2023; Zuberi, 2018) and the presence of unfriendly people or criminals (Johansson et al, 2012; Nayak, 2003) threaten youths’ safety and constrain their exploration of the community. Further, consistent with the discourse, current research shows that environmental and public safety factors such as poor street lighting, litter, poor road traffic features, and low police patrols are safety concerns in urban communities (Carver et al, 2009; Doyle et al, 2016; Johansson et al, 2012; Yang, Liller, Coulter, et al, 2022; Yang, Liller, Tyson, et al, 2022).…”

“…Current research with youth has identified themes on what makes young people feel safe or unsafe in the community. These themes relate to features of the physical environment, road traffic system features, public safety practices, and social cohesion factors (Carver et al, 2009; De Wet et al, 2018; Johansson et al, 2012; Russell et al, 2023; Slaato et al, 2023; Yang, Liller, Tyson, et al, 2022). Regarding the physical environment of the community, research shows that young people perceive cleanliness, functional lampposts, and fire hydrants among others as safety enhancing whereas they perceive an environment filled with litter and trash and dysfunctional lampposts and fire hydrants as unsafe (Yang, Liller, Coulter, et al, 2022; Yang, Liller, Tyson, et al, 2022).…”

“…Youth have also identified some behaviors and attitudes that adults put up which make them feel unsafe. These include negative comments, intimidation, being judgmental, and prejudice and discrimination based on gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and age (Nicksic et al, 2018; Russell et al, 2023; Sykes et al, 2017). Sykes et al (2017), for example, found in their adolescent sample that discrimination based on ethnicity or race was a significant marker of a perceived unsafe neighborhood with low social cohesion.…”

“…Community social cohesion factors also shape young people’s perceptions of safety (Allik & Kearns, 2017). The presence of supportive people, opportunities for social inclusion, and the absence of conflict or crime promote feelings of safety among youth, whereas an atmosphere of conflict, crime, drug use, and fights where weapons are within easy access is perceived as unsafe (De Wet et al, 2018; Johansson et al, 2012; Nicksic et al, 2018; Russell et al, 2023; Slaato et al, 2023; Yang, Liller, Coulter, et al, 2022; Yang, Liller, Tyson, et al, 2022). For example, conflict, crime or fights in which weapons may be used may induce the fear of harm on the way to or from school, work, or recreation centers and, therefore, may affect youth’s health and participation in school and other activities (De Wet et al, 2018; M.…”