David Mark Smolin is a professor of law at Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama where he is the Harwell G. Davis Chair in Constitutional Law, director for The Center for Children, Law, and Ethics, former director of the Center for Biotechnology, Law, and Ethics, and faculty advisor for the Law, Science and Technology Society.

David has granted permission for NBSCCCI to share two papers he presented on to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of  Minors. 

In David's own words to us when we began discussing transitional justice the first of his papers is more tentative in proposing Transitional Justice as a framework for supporting survivors of abuse within the Church, while the second is more extensive. 

How and why The Church should adopt a Transitional Justice Framework to abuse in Catholic contexts

Presentation to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors: David Smolin, Professor of Law and Director, Center for Children, Law, and Ethics, Cumberland School of Law, Samford University

On Thursday 28th of May 2025 Prof Anne-Marie McAlinden from Queen’s University Belfast, Prof Marie Keenan from UCD, and Dr James Gallen from DCU released their book and final policy report on Transforming Justice Responses to Non-Recent institutional Abuses. The project was part of a three-year project funded by The Higher Education Academy North-South Research Grant, with support from the British Academy and an Arts and Humanities Research Council Fellowship. The project examined justice responses to non-recent institutional abuses by church and state in both jurisdictions in a comparative, international and interdisciplinary context and explored how they can be enhanced

Transforming Justice Responses to Non-Recent institutional Abuses

For the summary of the final policy report please go to the link below. This summary document gives an overview of the project aims and methods along with a number of recommendations towards new justice approaches https://transformingjusticeproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ReframingJusticeResponses_Final_Report_DIGITAL.pdf

Other outputs from the project can be viewed on Project Outputs – Transforming Justice Project these include articles and pod casts that explore the topic of justice in this context.

To download and read the full book which takes a thorough look at the topic through interviews with 74 key stakeholders, including survivors, legal professionals, and institutional (Church and State) representatives go to this link;  Transforming Justice Responses to Non-Recent Institutional Abuses | Oxford Academic 

We are nearing the date for the NBSCCCI’s child safeguarding conference for 2025. This event will take place in the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone, Co. Westmeath across the 3rd, 4th and 5th of September. The event will commence at 2pm on Wednesday the 3rd  with an opening address moving into an afternoon of presentations before Mass in St. Peter & Pauls Church, Forthill House, the Batteries, Athlone (a four minute walk from the hotel) The first day will close with dinner at 7pm.

A full day’s conference will take place the following day, Thursday 4^th of September with an informal dinner in the evening.

The conference will conclude following lunch on Friday 5^th of September

The theme of the Conference is “Towards a restorative and transitional justice model of engaging with victims and survivors in the Catholic Church in Ireland”

The registration fee for the Conference is €200 and includes meals and breaks but does not include accommodation.

NOTE the registration fee is a flat rate of €200 whether you attend 1, 2, or all 3 days of the Conference.  We encourage attendees to join for the full three days to maximise the experience, but the fee remains the same for shorter attendance. To book your place on the conference please use this link

National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland - NBSCCCI National Safeguarding Conference 2025-Training Events

Rooms are available for you to book on a first come – first served basis through the Sheraton Hotel directly

If you wish to book/pay for a room and to avail of the special rates above, please contact the Sheraton Hotel directly and state you are attending the Conference. There is also a range of Bed and Breakfasts close by and the hotel can give you details of these. The National Board is not in a position to reserve any rooms on your behalf.  

Sheraton Athlone Hotel - 4-Star Stay Near River Shannon With Spa

Tel: +353 90-6451000      E-mail: info@sheratonathlonehotel.com

Address: Gleeson Street, Athlone, Co. Westmeath,