Cathal BarryEighteen reviews of safeguarding practice across five male religious congregations and 13 female religious congregations have been published
The chief executive of the Church’s safeguarding watchdog has today painted an “improving picture” of child protection procedures within the Catholic Church.
Teresa Devlin, CEO of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NCSCCCI), said that the timeframes for reporting allegations against priests and religious to the civil authorities has “improved considerably” since the introduction of new standards and guidelines.
She warned, however, that support for complainants “continues to be inconsistent”.
“Contact in many instances was not made directly by the Congregation and the opportunity for pastoral support was missed. This however is an improving picture and the reviewers highlighted instances of compassionate meaningful responses to survivors,” she said.
Ms Devlin was speaking as 18 reviews of safeguarding practice across five male religious congregations and 13 female religious congregations have been published today (Thursday).
Eight of these are standard reviews measuring safeguarding practice against the seven established standards that the Catholic Church has agreed to meet.
However, because 10 of the orders in question are very small, have very limited contact with children, the advanced age of their members and no allegations of sexual abuse in Ireland, were assessed against a revised framework. This framework has been devised to address the actuality of their current existence.
The reports also showed that a number of the priests were in ministry abroad and allegations were made from both children in Ireland and in the missionary countries.
Practice in terms of managing those situations varied, but increasingly is now dealt with by returning the accused priest to Ireland and being placed under restrictions in houses in Ireland. Where allegations have been made abroad it is rare for the complainant to pursue any action in relation to criminal or civil investigations. In these instances the Church inquiries are critical in establishing if there is a semblance of truth to the allegation and in the management of risk.
“We have also found that management plans relating to accused Priests and Brothers and sisters have improved significantly over time, though there is still room for improvement, in terms of clarity of roles, review of restrictions, and sharing of information,” Ms Devlin said.
“Adherence to other aspects of the seven standards was less well developed in many congregations. Many have limited ministry with children in Ireland today therefore the applicability of all criteria was limited. Recommendations for improvement where relevant have been made.”
For the 10 Congregations undergoing the revised audit process it was found that where there is ministry with children, the policies and procedures of the diocese or service provider were followed.
The report noted that the 10 Congregations demonstrated a strong sense of commitment to working positively with the National Board, in spite of their limited ministries.
Ms Devlin urged anyone who has suffered abuse to come forward.
“The publication of these Safeguarding reviews may evoke memories, it is important that complainants come forward if there are still unreported allegations of abuse. So, please do come forward and report them to the civil authorities and to the Diocese or Religious Order,” she said.
Group A – Full Review
Union of Presentation Sisters, Vincentian Fathers, The Redemptorists, Sisters of St Louis, Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, The Pallottines, St Joseph’s Missionary Society (Mill Hill) and The Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers)
Group B – Revised Review
Notre Dame des Missions; Medical Missionaries of Mary; Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa; Faithful Companions of Jesus; Missionary Sisters of St Columban; Adoration Sisters; Ursulines of Jesus; Sisters of Charity of Jesus & Mary; Sisters of Marie Reparatrice; and the Daughters of the Heart of Mary.