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	Bishops in Child Protection Vetting Move Irish Examiner March 13, 2006 http://www.irishexaminer.com/breaking/story.asp?j=75211590&p=75zyy89z&n=75211970&x= Catholic bishops are to put themselves forward for vetting to demonstrate the Church's commitment to child protection policies, it emerged today. The nine Northern bishops, led by Archbishop Sean Brady, are also going to appoint a new director of Child Protection for the Catholic Church in Northern Ireland. "The welfare and protection of children and vulnerable adults is a priority for the Catholic Church in Ireland. We want the Church to be at the forefront of best practice in this area," said Archbishop Brady. Last year, stringent vetting procedures for people working with children in Northern Ireland were introduced under the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults Order. The publication of the Ferns report last year, which detailed 100 allegations of abuse against 26 priests of the diocese, has increased the focus on the need for child protection policies. The Catholic Church was criticised in the 270-page report for failing to report the allegations to the Gardai, moving abusers from parish to parish and ordaining 'clearly unsuitable men into the priesthood'. At a meeting of the Irish Bishops' Conference in Maynooth, Archbishop Brady said he hoped the new measures would show the Church was willing to learn from the past. "We cannot undo the hurt caused in the past but we can put in place measures which will enhance the scope of protection afforded to those placed in our care. This remains our priority." Since last year, a review team has been drawing up a child protection policy for the Church in Northern Ireland in co-operation with the Department of Health and Social Services, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and a range of other organisations. The Northern Ireland Health Minister Shaun Woodward said he welcomed the fact that the Church had been providing all known information about the possible abuse of children with the PSNI. "I also applaud the expressed desire on the part of the Archbishop and his fellow bishops to ensure that adequate safeguards are put in place and maintained by the Church to protect," he said. Since 1965, there have been allegations of child sexual abuse made against 47 of the 2,000 priests who worked in the North, while there were similar allegations against 34 of the 3,200 religious sisters, brothers and priests who worked there. The Church is holding a seminar on child protection and developing care for victims of abuse in Belfast next week.
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