Report faults the Church's 'misleading' abuse guide
THE Catholic Church is to review its child abuse guidelines after a report commissioned by the Government identified "some difficulties" in its investigation procedures.
The report, written by Dr Helen Buckley, of the social studies department of Trinity College, Dublin, found "a certain lack of integration" between the church's 'Our Children, Our Church' policy document and guidelines produced by different State organisations.
It concluded that the church's document, published by the bishops in December 2005, could be seen as a stand-alone guideline rather than being "derivative of existing guidelines".
Identifying a lack of clarity in the document compiled by the church's National Board for Child Protection, Dr Buckley found that the wording which is used to describe the reporting process is "misleading and has elicited public criticism".
Critics have expressed concern that the church's document allows bishops and religious superiors a degree of discretion in deciding the strength of complaints before informing the public authorities, or not - rather than automatically referring all complaints, as well as suspicions and rumours, to the police and local health boards.
'Our Children, Our Church' is subject to review and needed changes will be incorporated into it
However Dr Buckley, one of the authors of the ground-breaking Government report into the horrendous scale of clerical sexual abuse in the diocese of Ferns, welcomed 'Our Children, Our Church'.
She called it "a comprehensive statement of the commitment of the Catholic Church to deal decisively with the problem of child abuse by staff or volunteers working for it".
Ian Elliott, the recently appointed chief executive of the national board, has confirmed that he had received and was considering Dr Buckley's report, which was commissioned by the then Minister for Children Brian Lenihan on behalf of the Government in March 2006.
"As with all such documents, 'Our Children, Our Church' is subject to review and necessary changes will be incorporated into it," Mr Elliott said.
The church's guidelines are being applied in all 26 Irish dioceses, including those in the North and in cross-border dioceses.
spokesman for the bishops residing in Northern Ireland confirmed that its guidelines include updated material relating to best practice which bring them into line with recently introduced vetting legislation in the North.
The report is being studied by the new Minister for Children Brendan Smith, who is understood to be seeking a formal response from the church's national board to Dr Buckley's reservations.
- John Cooney
