'Our children, our church': significant problems

Abstract

When published last December, the document Our Children, Our Church (hereafter OCOC) received a broad welcome. In recent months, however, it has come in for more detailed scrutiny as its practical implications have become apparent. This paper is best understood as an attempt to further the discussion by putting some of the problematic aspects of OCOC under the spotlight in order to seek a level of clarity that is in the best interests not only of Church personnel to whom the guidelines apply but also of those whom the guidelines seek to protect. It therefore does not seek to be comprehensive nor will it be evaluating what might be considered more praiseworthy aspects of the guidelines