Consent, Children & Culture: A Safeguarding Policy Template for Minors in Exorcism and Deliverance

Introduction: Why a specialised safeguarding policy matters

Deliverance and exorcism rituals can carry real emotional, physical and legal risk for children and adolescents when practiced without clear safeguards. Faith leaders, lay ministers and organisations must balance pastoral care, cultural respect and religious freedom with statutory child protection duties, medical safety and the child’s best interests.

Across jurisdictions the legal duties and expectations for clergy and organisations vary—some U.S. states list clergy as mandatory reporters, while others carve out privileged communications. Organisations that run or facilitate deliverance work should adopt written policies that make expectations, lines of accountability and emergency procedures explicit for all participants.

Core principles (brief)

• Best interests of the child: Every decision must prioritise safety, dignity and the child’s physical and mental health.
• Informed consent and assent: Parents/guardians must give informed consent for minors; age‑appropriate assent from the child should be sought wherever possible.
• Clinical first, ritual second: Suspected medical, psychiatric, neurological or developmental conditions must be assessed by qualified clinicians before any ritualised intervention.
• Mandatory reporting and legal compliance: Policies must reflect local mandatory reporting laws and organisational duty of care.
• Recordkeeping, transparency and oversight: Clear written records, designated safeguarding officers and regular review are required.

These principles align with accepted safeguarding guidance for faith communities and diocesan deliverance protocols that require diocesan / safeguarding adviser involvement for minors.

A practical policy template: sections and sample language

1. Purpose and scope

This policy applies to all clergy, lay ministers, volunteers, contractors and visiting teams who provide or arrange deliverance, exorcism or formal rites of spiritual intervention for persons under 18 years of age on organisation premises or under organisational auspices.

2. Definitions

Define key terms: 'deliverance', 'exorcism', 'minor', 'parent/guardian', 'penitential communication', 'safeguarding officer'.

3. Consent and assent

Sample clause: "No ritualised deliverance or exorcism may be performed on a person under 18 without the written informed consent of a parent or legally authorised guardian. Where the child is capable of understanding (usually ages 7+ depending on maturity), the practitioner must also obtain the child’s informed assent and explain, in age‑appropriate language, what will happen and how they can stop the process at any time."

Include: date/time, clear description of the procedure, expected contact (touch), who will be present, audiovisual recording statement (allowed or not), medical clearance requirement, and withdrawal process.

4. Medical and mental health screening

• Require documented medical/mental‑health screening and written clearance from a licensed clinician before any deliverance for minors, unless there is an immediate life‑threat emergency (in which case call emergency services).
• Specify which red flags require immediate medical/psych emergency response (self‑harm, suicidal ideation, seizure, severe disorientation, inability to communicate).

Many diocesan norms and modern deliverance guidance emphasise separation between general prayer ministry and formal exorcism and require medical advice and bishop/diocesan authorisation for exceptional cases.

Operational rules: staffing, environment, chaperones and contact

• Authorisation: Only designated, vetted and trained practitioners may be involved in deliverance work with minors; authorisation should be recorded and reviewed annually.
• DBS/Background checks: All team members must pass relevant background checks and safeguarding training required by national law and the organisation.
• Two‑adult rule: At least two authorised adults must be present during any interaction with a minor (one of whom may be the guardian). One adult should be same‑sex as the minor for any hands‑on contact, and physical contact must be minimal, explained in advance, and recorded.
• Chaperone/guardian presence: A parent or legally authorised guardian must be present unless the statutory guidance or a court order prevents it; organisations should not rely on parental consent where there is suspicion of coercion or abuse.
• No coercive or punitive measures: The policy must forbid practices that harm (beating, forced ingestion, prolonged fasting, exposure to extreme conditions, withholding medical treatment).

Good practice also requires a designated safeguarding lead and a clear escalation pathway for concerns or emergencies—documented and rehearsed.

Reporting, confidentiality and legal obligations

Organisations must make explicit how they reconcile confidentiality with mandatory reporting. In many places, clergy are mandatory reporters and must report suspected child abuse to statutory authorities; in some jurisdictions laws and court decisions have recently changed or been litigated, so local legal advice is essential when drafting policy. Policies must instruct staff to report concerns immediately and document steps taken.

Sample clause: "Where staff or volunteers have reasonable cause to suspect abuse or neglect, they must report to the relevant statutory child protection agency immediately. Confidentiality will not be used to justify failure to report."

Training, cultural competence and co‑design

Deliverance work often sits at the intersection of faith, culture and family practices. Policies should require:

• Mandatory safeguarding training (basic and role‑specific) for all deliverance team members;
• Cultural competence training and community consultation when rituals are rooted in specific cultural traditions;
• Co‑design of safeguarding measures with community leaders and child‑protection specialists when appropriate.

Templates and sample forms (short)

A. Informed consent form (summary)

Elements to include: child’s name and DOB; guardian’s name and contact; clear description of rite; names & roles of practitioners; anticipated physical contact; medical/mental‑health clearance statement; audio/video recording consent; emergency contact and authorisation to seek medical care; signature lines and dates; withdrawal statement.

B. Risk assessment checklist

• Is there recent medical/psych history? (list)
• Are there indicators of coercion or abuse?
• Is the minor capable of assent?
• Is a guardian present and consenting freely?
• Has a clinician cleared the minor for participation?

Include an escalation column that lists immediate actions and contacts (local emergency services, child protection hotline, diocesan safeguarding adviser, legal counsel).

Implementation checklist & governance

Before permitting any deliverance work involving minors, an organisation should ensure:

1. Written policy approved by the governing body;
2. Named safeguarding lead and deputy with contact details;
3. Completed background checks and training records for all practitioners;
4. Standardised consent and medical clearance forms adopted and stored securely;
5. Regular audit schedule, incident‑reporting log and annual review with community input.

Diocesan and denominational authorities should be engaged for oversight where organisationally relevant; several diocesan norms already require bishop/diocesan authorisation and medical advice for deliverance involving minors.

Concluding guidance: balancing culture and rights

Deliverance rituals are meaningful for many families and communities. A rights‑based, pragmatic safeguarding policy does not forbid cultural practice — it protects the child while respecting religious expression. Organisations that adopt clear consent processes, clinical screening, mandatory reporting compliance, chaperoning and transparent oversight reduce risk and strengthen trust. Engage child‑protection professionals and community leaders to iteratively refine policy and training.

For legal compliance, always verify local reporting duties and privileged communications with competent legal counsel and update policies as laws and court decisions evolve. Recent legislative developments and litigation have shown this is a dynamic legal area—policy drafters should monitor local changes.