Data Protection Policy

We invite you to discover, belong, and journey with us in faith. Welcome home to the Ancient Catholic Church—where tradition meets mission, and community flourishes.

Ancient Catholic Church Data Protection Policy (UK)

1. Introduction

The Ancient Catholic Church (ACC) is dedicated to protecting the privacy and personal data of its clergy, seminarians, staff, parishioners, and associated parties in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. This policy outlines the principles and practices that govern the collection, usage, storage, and processing of personal data within the ACC.

2. Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to all personal data processed by the ACC, whether in electronic or physical form, including but not limited to:

Information about seminarians, clergy, staff, and volunteers.
Information exchanged during communications between seminarians and clergy.
Parishioner records and community data.

3. Data Protection Principles

The ACC commits to the following principles for processing personal data:

Lawfulness, Fairness, and Transparency: Data is processed in a lawful and transparent manner, ensuring individuals are aware of how their information is used.
Purpose Limitation: Data is collected for specified and legitimate purposes and is not further processed in an incompatible manner.
Data Minimization: Only the data necessary for the stated purposes is collected.
Accuracy: Data is accurate and kept up to date.
Storage Limitation: Data is retained only for as long as necessary for its intended purposes.
Integrity and Confidentiality: Data is processed securely, protecting against unauthorized access, accidental loss, or damage.

4. Data Collected by the ACC

The ACC processes the following types of data, depending on the context:

Personal Identification Data: Name, date of birth, contact information.
Sensitive Data: Religious beliefs, health information (when necessary for pastoral care).
Vocational and Academic Data: Information related to seminarians’ formation and progress, including correspondence with clergy.
Communication Records: Emails, meeting notes, and other interactions between clergy and seminarians.

5. Use of Data

Data collected by the ACC is used for the following purposes:

Facilitating priestly formation and vocational discernment.
Managing academic records for the online seminary.
Supporting spiritual growth and pastoral care.
Ensuring compliance with ecclesiastical and legal requirements.
Handling parish operations and community engagement.

6. Information Exchanged Between Seminarians and Clergy

The ACC recognizes the sensitive nature of the relationship between seminarians and clergy. To protect confidentiality and comply with UK GDPR:

Communications between seminarians and clergy (e.g., emails, pastoral counseling records) are treated with the utmost discretion.
Data exchanged during spiritual direction or vocational guidance is stored securely in encrypted systems or locked physical archives.
Such data is only accessed by authorized personnel and is not shared with third parties unless required by law, safeguarding policies, or explicit consent from the seminarian.
When used for educational or training purposes within the church, personal identifiers are removed to protect confidentiality.

7. Data Storage and Security

To ensure the security of personal data:

Digital records are stored in password-protected systems with encryption.
Physical documents are kept in locked storage with access granted to authorized individuals only.
Regular data security audits are conducted to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Staff and clergy receive ongoing training in data protection compliance.

8. Data Sharing and Third-Party Access

The ACC does not share personal data with external parties unless:

Explicit consent has been obtained from the individual.
Sharing is required by ecclesiastical authority or legal obligation.
Service providers, such as academic institutions, are assisting in seminary education under strict data protection agreements.

9. Data Retention

Personal data is retained for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected. Retention periods are as follows:

Vocational and academic records: Retained for the duration of the seminary program and archived for ecclesiastical reference.
Communication records: Reviewed periodically and securely deleted when no longer needed.

10. Data Subject Rights

Under UK GDPR, individuals have the following rights:

Right to Access: Obtain copies of their personal data.
Right to Rectification: Correct inaccuracies in their data.
Right to Erasure: Request data deletion where applicable.
Right to Restrict Processing: Limit data usage under certain circumstances.
Right to Object: Challenge certain types of data processing.
Right to Data Portability: Transfer data to another organization.

11. Breach Notification

In the event of a data breach, the ACC will:

Notify affected individuals without undue delay.
Report the breach to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) within 72 hours, if legally required.
Take immediate steps to address and resolve the breach.

12. Contact Information

If you have questions about this policy or wish to exercise your rights under the UK GDPR, please contact:

Data Protection Officer

policy@ancientcatholicchurch.org

This policy will be reviewed annually to ensure it remains up to date with legal and ecclesiastical requirements.

Signed:
Archbishop Felix Gibbins OSB Cam
Archbishop of the United Kingdom
1st January 2024

About the Ancient Catholic Church

Fostering faith, inclusion, and compassionate service within a vibrant community and beyond.

Who Are We?

The Ancient Catholic Church is a community that proudly carries forward the rich heritage of the Roman Catholic tradition while embracing a spirit of inclusivity and family.

Governance

The ACC operates under a structured and inclusive governance model that reflects its commitment to apostolic tradition, pastoral care, and community engagement.

Archbishop Felix Gibbins is the spiritual leader and Primus of the Ancient Catholic Archdiocese of the United Kingdom, and the seventh successor of St Felix of Dunwich.

Meet Archbishop Felix

A group of nuns are gathered together, smiling and engaging in conversation. They appear to be enjoying each other's company, sharing a moment of joy and camaraderie. The setting suggests a sense of community and friendship.

Safeguarding Policy

Data Protection Policy

Spiritual Formation Policy

Our safeguarding policy reflects the Church’s mission to be a safe haven for all, especially children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

Dedicated to protecting the privacy and personal data of its clergy, seminarians, staff, parishioners, and associated parties in accordance with (UK GDPR).

The policy is intended to nurture a deep, authentic relationship with God and to prepare candidates for a lifetime of service steeped in the wisdom of the Church Fathers/