
The monastic community and Ampleforth Abbey Trust are extremely saddened and sorry for the hurt caused by Fr James Callaghan, today found guilty of charges relating to indecent assault dating back to a period between 1994-1997 and of sexual assault in 2013, and would like to unreservedly apologise to his victims, their families and the wider community. We acknowledge with shame the gravity of the abuse he inflicted upon his victims.
Fr James is suspended from active ministry and is not a resident at Ampleforth Abbey. In accordance with the Church protocol concerning clerics who have been convicted, the Holy See will be petitioned for him to be dismissed from the priesthood and monastic vows.
We are resolutely committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of all those who come to visit the Abbey site and come into contact with the monastic community and our lay staff. Learning from past mistakes we have, with the help of extensive external expertise and scrutiny, implemented robust safeguarding policies and practices. We continue to seek to ensure that the culture of safeguarding is embedded throughout the many activities of the Abbey and Trust. We welcome the fact that our safeguarding policies and decisions are monitored by external agencies. We offer a heartfelt apology to all those who have experienced abuse in the past by monks, staff or volunteers of Ampleforth Abbey.
If anyone has any concerns of safeguarding nature about Ampleforth Abbey and its works, they are asked to contact the statutory authorities or the Trust’s Director of Safeguarding and Wellbeing. Contact details, further information on our safeguarding policies, and victim support are available in the Safeguarding pages of our website.
Robert Igo OSB
Abbot of Ampleforth