National Board for the Safeguarding of Children in the Catholic Church Reports a Year of Progress in its Activities

Notes 197 New Allegations of Abuse

 

Monday 17^th May 2010

The National Board for the Safeguarding of Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC) published its second annual report today. It details the work done by the Board and its National Office in the year through 31 March 2010. The range of their activities underpins two clear conclusions noted by Ian Elliott, CEO, “That children should be safer within the Church than they once were” and “those that seek to harm children should feel much less secure.” At parish level throughout Ireland child safeguarding is now supported by 2,356 known volunteers who have undergone appropriate training.

 

It notes that 197 new allegations of abuse were reported to it, and the authorities, between April 1^st 2009 and the end of March 2010.

 

“In relation to the new allegations we have specifically stated that these are of abuse, rather than sexual abuse,” explained Ian Elliott. All of them are historical in nature, involving adults talking about experiences they had as children. None originated from children or young people. Some went back over 50 years. However, they are all allegations that have not been reported before.

 

The report explains that of these allegations 87 related to the Dioceses and the remaining 110 came from the Religious Congregations/Orders and the Missionary Societies. All were reported to the statutory authorities in whatever jurisdiction the alleged offences occurred. 83 of the alleged perpetrators are deceased.  This leaves a total of 114 allegations that relate to individuals who are alive today. Of these a further 35 have already been laicised or dismissed from their Congregation or Order. A number were allegations relating to individuals against whom previous allegations had already been made.

 

As the remit of the NBSCCC includes providing support and training in implementing the safeguarding guidelines to which every constituent part of the Church has already given their endorsement, the report details the Board’s work in these areas. It also points out that the Board has provided training to 58 groups on various aspects of the safeguarding guidelines and, importantly, schedules in some detail, new policies being developed at national level to further ensure the quality and extent of child safeguarding for the Catholic Church.

 

Looking at the its plans for the future the Board states that one of its priorities for 2010 will be a review of safeguarding practice across all dioceses and congregations, starting with the dioceses. This review has now commenced. It plans to complete the reviews of dioceses in a year’s time.

 

National Board for the Safeguarding of Children

in the Catholic Church Meets with Conference of Bishops

National Diocesan Audit Imminent

 

(March 9^th 2010)

The National Board for the Safeguarding of Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC) today briefed the Irish Episcopal Conference on the progress made by the organisation in its work with the Church here.

“We are particularly pleased to be able to brief the bishops today on the most significant developments on safeguarding children in the Church,” explained John Morgan, Chairman, NBSCCC. “In particular, we were able to tell them of the status of contacts with state authorities, North and South and a process for carrying out an audit of child safeguarding in the remaining dioceses. The various legal and data protection issues have been effectively resolved.”

The NBSCCC was asked by the Irish Episcopal Conference late last year to examine how an audit of every diocese not already audited, on the island of Ireland, could be carried out. Extensive discussions have taken place with the relevant regulatory authorities in both jurisdictions.

“We have identified a methodology for carrying out the required audit that will be both timely and thorough,” stated Ian Elliott, CEO, NBSCCC. “We have explained it to the Bishops and they are in agreement with it. Further, they have confirmed that they will make available the extra resources required.”

It is expected that the audit process will start within weeks.

 

ENDS

From Collaboration to Co-Responsibility:

The Cultural Correction Required in the Irish Church to deal with Child Abuse.

23 October 2009 | Address by Ian Elliott, Chief Executive of the National Office for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church, at the ‘Keeping Children Safe’ conference sponsored by the Health Service Executive and hosted by University College Cork

At the invitation of the National Office, Dr Monica Applewhite visited Ireland to assist us in the development of policy and practice with particular regard to the responding to alleged offenders within the Church. Dr Applewhite addressed the Irish Bishop’s Conference on Tuesday 10th March speaking on the lessons learnt from the United States of America. She spent a day working with the National Office team helping us to advance our thinking in risk assessment and also offered advice on training. On Thursday 12th March, she addressed a group of religious delegates and leaders.

Dr Applewhite has great experience and through her visit the work she has greatly helped and advanced our thinking in this critical area. A copy of her address to the Bishops has been posted on the site along with a copy of her curriculum vitae. It is hoped that she will be able to retain a connection with our work here and in time return to provide us with further assistance and support. 

Terms of Reference and structure of a central professional Practice committee is currently being advanced by staff in the National Office. The role of this Committee will be to offer advice and guidance to Bishops and Congregational Leaders about steps to take in relation to priests, religious and clergy who have been accused of (sexually) harming children and young people. There will be widespread consultation, on the proposals during Spring 2009.

There are two sub-Committees associated with the National Board for Safeguarding Children – The Finance and General Purpose Committee, and the Practice and Policy Sub-Committee. The former committee is chaired by John Morgan, while the latter is chaired by Sister Martina Barrett.

Current Policy being developed by Sr Martina and her colleagues includes:

• Guidance on Pastoral Care of Victims and Families

• Stepping Aside Policy

• Record Keeping

“Safeguarding Children”, Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church in Ireland, extends the principles outlined in “Our Children, Our Church” (OCOC). From these principles, seven standards have been developed which represent best practice in the field of safeguarding children, in the Church and all related Church activities. The guidance will be circulated over the coming months to all Dioceses, Congregations and Religious Communities, and will replace OCOC as the standards to be followed in protecting children.

The National Office will run a series of seminars and information sessions when distributing “Safeguarding Children”, starting with a meeting of Diocesan Delegates in January 2009. Congregational designated officers, their Leaders and other key people will be invited to attend regional events early during Spring, 2009.