Diocesan Audits Show Better Abuse Reporting Practices, Irish Times, November 30, 2011

Diocesan Audits Show Better Abuse Reporting Practices

Irish Times
November 30, 2011

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1130/breaking10.html

[with video]

Bishop of Dromore John McAreavey and Patricia Carville, Designated Person of Safeguarding in the Diocese, inside St Patrick's Cathedral in Newry, after the report into child protection practices in the Diocese was published. Photograph: Julian Behal

A number of reviews into the handling of clerical child sex abuse allegations have found that dioceses failed to respond adequately to the accusations.

Six reports were published this morning as part of an all-island review of child protection policies in all Catholic institutions on the island of Ireland.

The reviews, which were carried out by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church, covered Derry diocese, Dromore (Down), Kilmore (Cavan), Ardagh Clonmacnoise (Longford, Leitrim, Offaly) dioceses as well as Tuam archdiocese.

While many dioceses come in for criticism for their handling of abuse allegations in the past, the reviews conclude lessons have been learned. Most dioceses are praised for the manner in which they have implemented child protection guidelines and for their proactive approach to dealing with accusations.

NBSCCC chief executive Ian Elliott defended criticisms that his investigation was not carried out years ago, saying his aim was to ensure children are safe in church settings in the future.

"We can't change history," said Mr Elliott. "But what we can do and what we are hopefully doing through these reports is confirming what the current situation is and that's very important.

"There is a responsibility which is placed upon all of us to the lay faithful in the church, particularly to children, to parents, to ensuring their children are as safe as they can possibly be within church settings."

The Diocese of Raphoe in Co Donegal comes in for particular criticism, with the review concluding that "significant errors of judgment" were made by successive bishops in responding to the accusations.

In a statement, Bishop Dr Philip Boyce admitted there had been "very poor judgments and mistakes made" during the previous decades. "There were horrific acts of abuse of children by individual priests, that should never have happened, and if suspected should have been dealt with immediately in the appropriate manner," he said.