The CSSA confirms safeguarding audit judgements on six religious life groups

12 May 2025

In the first audit of their safeguarding practice today, six religious life groups have been judged by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) to be graded as follows:

Cistercians of Mount St Bernard Abbey – Met with recommendations

Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth – Firm progress

De La Salle Brothers – Results being achieved

Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood – Firm progress

The Oxford Oratory of St Philip Neri – Firm progress

The Society of Missionaries of Africa – Firm progress

The Inspectorate for England and Wales report that these religious life groups demonstrate varying levels of progress towards the eight national safeguarding standards. They were individually able to satisfy independent analysts from within the CSSA about how they help keep people safe, with more work to be done.

Steve Ashley, Chief Executive Officer, CSSA says:  “These results of our baseline audits of religious life groups show that these specific church bodies are achieving the standards expected so far.

“Each one must keep sustaining and improving. Only this way can they assure a wider public that everything possible is being done to help prevent harm.”

CSSA safeguarding audits for larger religious life groups range on a scale from: ‘below basic’, ‘basic’, ‘early progress’, ‘firm progress’, ‘comprehensive assurance’ and ‘exemplary’.

For smaller religious life groups, grades range from: ‘not met’, ‘met with recommendations’ and ‘met’. In each case, the overall grading represents a combination of their scoring across eight areas of work relating to safeguarding standards.

The CSSA publish the safeguarding audit and inspection results from every Catholic Church body in England and Wales. You can find the audits for religious life groups HERE.

More information about the CSSA’s audit and inspection process can be found  HERE

Journalists: to speak with Steve Ashley, CEO, please initially contact Sarah Gleadall: sarah.gleadall@catholicsafeguarding.org.uk