Letter from Sr Dr Una Coogan CJ Lead Religious for Safeguarding Regarding CSSA Survivor Reports

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Re: Downloads

Survivors Experience of the Catholic Church CSSA Report July 2026
Survivors Experience of the Catholic Church CSSA Summary July 2026

The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) has recently published a significant report capturing the lived experiences of survivors of abuse. These testimonies are a vital contribution to our shared safeguarding mission, offering honest insight into how the Church’s actions are felt by those who have suffered harm.

I strongly encourage you to read and reflect on the reports (a summary and the full report). They provide important guidance for all Religious Life Groups, helping us to strengthen our practice, deepen our understanding, and make our engagement with victims and survivors more meaningful and responsive.

The voices within these reports call us to a deeper listening, a more honest reflection, and a continuing conversation about how safeguarding is embedded consistently across the Church and within our own communities. Their experiences challenge us to grow, to learn, and to ensure that our commitment to safeguarding is lived out with integrity, compassion, and accountability.

Thank you for your ongoing dedication to this essential work.

With every good wish,

Sr Dr Una Coogan, C.J.
Lead Religious for Safeguarding
Strategic Council for Catholic Safeguarding (SCCS)
Mobile: 0773 5535123