BishopAccountability.org
	Safeguarding Children Is 'A Priority': Bishop By Maria Pepper Wexford People January 7, 2009 http://www.wexfordpeople.ie/news/safeguarding-children-is-a-priority-bishop-1595460.html THERE IS no allegation of child sex abuse involving a priest or former priest in the Diocese of Ferns which has not been reported to the Garda and the HSE, Bishop Denis Brennan said this week. Speaking in Bride Street Church on Tuesday (the Feast of the Epiphany), Bishop Brennan told the congregation that all allegations of clerical sex abuse had been handled in line with written guidelines from both State and Church. He was responding to recent accusations nationally suggesting a lack of compliance by church authorities in the reporting of child sex abuse. Bishop Brennan said he wanted to make the point that the Diocese of Ferns accepted the findings and recommendations of the Ferns Inquiry when they were issued on October 25, 2005. 'The issue of safeguarding children has remained a priority concern for the diocese', he said, adding that awareness training and improvement in existing structures had continued since then, along with the commissioning of parish representatives and ongoing outreach and engagement with victims and their families, where permitted, requested or appropriate. He expressed gratitude to the Diocesan Child Protection Committee for its work in establishing best practice. Bishop Brennan said the diocese was guided in all its dealings by the Holy See Directive of 2001; the Diocesan Advisory Panel (which is comprised of people experienced in psychotherapy, child protection, management and canon and civil law); Inter Agency Meetings, an initiative of the Diocese since 2002 and a subsequent recommendation of the Ferns Inquiry Report, and the National Board for Safeguarding Children. He said he would like to thank the many people, lay and clerical, who were shaping a future in Ferns where children are both safeguarded and encouraged to full christian growth. Bishop Brennan said that anyone who has concerns should contact their local parish representative or the diocesan delegate Ms. Marian Stack, telephone (053) 9122177, mobile (085) 1055992. The diocesan support person is Sr. Helen O' Riordan, telephone (053) 9174972, mobile (086) 3528613.
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