Before exercising any public and unsupervised ministry within the Diocese of Lancaster each and every cleric, religious or clerical student from outside the Diocese, even within the UK, is required to present to the Bishop’s Office a combined application form (found below) – to be completed by themselves – and testimonial – to be completed by their Bishop/Superior:
TESTIMONIAL/APPLICATION FORM (Updated 5 February 2018)
This completed form is then processed through the Bishop’s Office in collaboration with the Diocesan Safeguarding Office) and should all be in order the Bishop of Lancaster will grant faculties to the given priest/deacon/religious/seminarian concerned – with a copy also sent to the Parish Priest for whom the visiting priest/deacon/religious/seminarian is working or supplying.
The above protocol is critical in order to safeguard all of us involved in the primary work of ensuring a safe and caring environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults in our care.