The Catholic Church in Singapore has expanded security training to 30 of its 32 churches, with more than 3,500 priests and ministry members trained over the past three years.
The Archdiocese of Singapore said it aims to introduce the Threat-Oriented Person Screening Integrated System, or Topsis, in its remaining two churches by the end of the year.
Topsis is a security community enhancement program of the Singapore Police Force that trains personnel to identify high-risk persons, conduct security questioning and carry out enhanced checks when necessary, Catholic News SG reported.
The archdiocese received a Topsis organizational award from the government on Oct. 14 at the Orchard Hotel for its security and safety efforts.
Sim Ann, Singapore’s second minister for foreign affairs and home affairs, presented the award.
“Places of worship are designed to be open and welcoming to all; however, this openness may also give rise to vulnerabilities,” Sim said.
“The Archdiocese has demonstrated that a welcoming environment can be maintained alongside a strong culture of vigilance,” she added.
The Archdiocesan Emergency Response Operations, or Aero, has led the training of priests and ministry members to recognize suspicious behavior, identify potential threats and remain vigilant.
Aero has also expanded its pool of Singapore Police Force-certified Topsis trainers from five to 13. All are volunteers.
“What makes this achievement particularly meaningful is that it has been driven largely by volunteers who have given generously of their time, talents, and energy in the service of our Catholic community. Ultimately, our objective is simple: to ensure that our churches remain safe, secure, and welcoming places of worship for our clergy, parishioners, and visitors,” said Aero chair James Soo.
The archdiocese is also seeking to make security awareness part of everyday parish life rather than leaving responsibility solely to designated security volunteers.
Aero shares security advisories from incidents across parishes and conducts practical exercises to test the preparedness of volunteers.
Aero Topsis trainer John Low said parishioners who encounter suspicious behavior or objects should remain calm, keep a safe distance and report their concerns through the proper channels.
They should not confront the person, touch the object or attempt to investigate it themselves.
“That’s the role of trained personnel who are equipped to confirm and resolve the concern safely. Ordinary parishioners help by observing and reporting, not by intervening,” Low said.
