OLOMOUC — The Czech Church has marked the 10th anniversary of its national safeguarding guidelines with a conference held in Olomouc, hearing from victims/survivors about the generational, relational and spiritual impact of clerical child sexual abuse. 

The one-day meeting drew legal experts, Church leaders, psychologists, and international guests for reflection and forward-looking discussion on child protection and abuse prevention throughout the territory and how to support this work through regional partnerships. 

 Forensic psychologist and Commission member Ewa Kusz, was invited to present to attendees on developments in Poland and the potential of the Commissions Universal Guidelines Framework (UGF) as a means by which to assess progress and gaps in the implementation of the Czech church’s safeguarding policy on the ground 

The conference, hosted at the Theological Faculty of Palacký University, was structured in two parts. The morning sessions focused on legal aspects of safeguarding, including a panel on the secrecy of confession. In the afternoon, attention shifted to the pastoral and psychological dimensions of abuse prevention and survivor support. 

One of the most moving moments, Kusz noted, came during a testimony from a married couple. The wife, a survivor of abuse within the Church, spoke candidly about the long-term effects on her life, sharing not the details of the harm but its emotional and spiritual consequences. In turn, her husband spoke about what it has meant to accompany her on her journey of healing.  

“It was a great experience to witness. They later reached out asking how they might contribute further. I believe they would be valuable voices in future survivor consultations.” – Ewa Kusz, Commission member 

Kusz used the opportunity to introduce the Universal Guidelines Framework to the Czech audience, framing her remarks around each pillar of the UGF and drawing comparisons with Poland’s current safeguarding landscape.  

“I spoke about where we are in Poland, what we’ve already achieved, and what still lies ahead. It was well received. There is a growing awareness that while legal frameworks are important, we must now move toward a comprehensive culture of prevention.” – Ewa Kusz, Commission member 

The conference saw participation from five or six bishops of the Czech Republic’s twenty dioceses, as well as the Apostolic Nuncio. The country’s episcopal commission, drawn from both Bohemia and Moravia, appointed Bishop Stanislav Přibyl of Litoměřice as bishop in charge of safeguarding. According to Kusz, the Czech bishops are looking to Poland as a regional partner. “They expressed a clear desire to collaborate, including plans to establish a prevention centre and request for access to our Polish materials.” 

The event brought together a broad cross-section of professionals, including lay experts. One of the co-organisers, a public prosecutor from Olomouc, also serves as a law professor at the university’s theological faculty—reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to safeguarding increasingly embraced across Central Europe. 

“This was another confirmation of a trend I’ve been observing. Whether in Ukraine, the Czech Republic, or Lithuania, there is a strong desire for contact with Poland. We share similar cultures and histories, and this fosters mutual trust and openness.” – Ewa Kusz, Commission member 

Despite the linguistic challenges, Kusz said she was grateful for the experience. “After a day and a half of listening to Czech—a language I partially understand, being Slavic—I found myself comprehending more than I expected. On the bus ride home, I even felt like I was still hearing Czech spoken around me.” 

The conference marks a significant step forward for safeguarding efforts in the Czech Church, with increasing momentum toward regional collaboration and alignment with the Universal Guidelines Framework.  

“The interest is there. The next step is building structures and relationships that can sustain meaningful change.” – Ewa Kusz, Commission member