On 18 March 2018 the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland launched a new safeguarding manual entitled ‘In God’s Image’. The manual was an "Instruction on Safeguarding for implementation in all Catholic canonical jurisdictions in Scotland and by all other groups and organisations in Scotland subject to a legitimate canonical authority of the Catholic Church". Each Bishop ensured that it became mandatory in every Diocese from 21st May 2018 by issuing a canonical decree. The Manual was issued ‘ad experimentum’ for three years and then reviewed in the light of consultation and input from stakeholders.
The new, improved version was launched on 8 September 2021. ‘In God’s Image’ presents eight detailed standards to explain and direct the approach to Safeguarding that is to be practised at every level of the Catholic Church in Scotland. For the public, and for Catholic faith communities in particular, it has been written to explain how the Catholic Church in Scotland makes every effort to protect children and vulnerable adults from all forms of harm and abuse. It has also been written to direct those who are responsible for managing Safeguarding arrangements in parishes, dioceses, Religious Institutes and Catholic organisations on how to comply with the Church's national Safeguarding standards.
Writing in the Scotsman on 16 May 2018, Bishop Toal, Bishop of Motherwell and then Vice President of the Bishops Conference of Scotland described the publication of the new manual as an ‘opportunity to repeat and renew apologies made to those who have suffered any form of abuse, at any time, by anyone representing the Church.’ He went on to say that the Church aspires to the highest standards of care and that it is committed to rebuilding trust and confidence in the ways in which it ensures that children, young people and vulnerable adults are kept safe.