New Director for the Centre for Safeguarding Minors and Vulnerable Persons

OTTAWA, Wednesday, August 31, 2022 – The Faculty of Canon Law is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Marie-Rose Tannous as the new director for the Centre for Safeguarding Minors and Vulnerable Persons (CPCS).

Dr. Tannous has an impressive and multidisciplinary background. After obtaining a Ph.D. in theology from Saint Paul University (2014), she pursued a master’s degree in counselling and psychotherapy (2018). In addition to part-time teaching on a variety of subject areas, Dr. Tannous is a registered psychotherapist by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). As well, she has served as the Journals’ Coordinator for Counselling and Spirituality, Studia Canonica and Theoforum. Her professional background aligns well with the interdisciplinary nature and aims of the CPCS. As director of the CPCS, Dr. Tannous is also an assistant professor in the Faculty of Canon Law.

We also use this occasion to bid farewell and express our appreciation for the Centre’s founding director, Dr. Karlijn Demasure. Dr. Demasure is a world-renowned expert on safeguarding minors, having published and lectured widely on the topic. In recognition for Dr. Demasure’s important contribution to safeguarding victims of all forms of abuse, she was awarded the title of “Officer of the Order of the Crown” by her native country of Belgium in 2018. Dr. Demasure has served our university community in variety of capacities, including as a professor in the Faculty of Theology (2008-2010), Dean of the Faculties of Philosophy and Human Sciences (2010-2014), and most recently as Director of the CPCS (2019-2022). Dr. Demasure will continue to be involved with the work of the CPCS, especially through her oversight of an externally funded research project entitled “Toward a Trustworthy Church,” in which some professors of our faculty are also involved.

We congratulate Dr. Tannous and assure her of our support. We thank Dr. Demasure for her valuable and ongoing contribution to the field of safeguarding and to our university community.

For more information, please contact:
Julie Bourassa
Communications Officer, Saint Paul University
613-236-1393, ext. 2310
jbourassa@ustpaul.ca