Receiving a complaint

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1. If a complaint of abuse comes to the notice of any Church personnel and the person who has made this complaint wishes to invoke the procedures outlined in this document, the Church personnel shall refer the matter to a Contact Person as soon as possible.
2. Information shall be widely circulated to the public, and especially among Church counselling agencies, parishes and schools, to make people aware that these procedures exist. The information shall set out as simply as possible the manner for making a complaint about abuse.
3. Anonymous complaints are to be treated prudently. An anonymous complaint cannot have the full force of one made by an identified person, but anxiety and fear may persuade some complainants not to reveal their identity immediately The Church authority may be unable to act on the complaint under these procedures unless at some point the name of the complainant becomes known.
4. The Contact Person shall listen fully, honestly and compassionately to the person laying the complaint, both concerning the facts of the situation and its emotional, psychological and spiritual effects. The Contact Person shall explain the procedures for addressing the complaint and ensure that the complainant gives his or her consent to proceeding on the basis laid down in this document.
5. The Contact Person shall either receive a written and signed complaint, or provide written notes of the details of the complaint and these notes are to be confirmed by the signature of the complainant. The complaint should have sufficient information about the nature of the complaint for the accused person to know what has been alleged against him or her.

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