Bishop Wants Pope to Meet Abuse Survivors, RTE News, March 7, 2010

Bishop Wants Pope to Meet Abuse Survivors

RTE News
March 7, 2010

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0307/abuse.html?RTEMAILID

[with audio]

Willie Walsh Wants survivors to visit Vatican

Bishop of Killaloe Willie Walsh has said he would like to see Pope Benedict invite the Irish survivors of clerical child abuse to the Vatican for a face-to-face meeting.

Speaking on RTE Radio's 'This Week', Bishop Walsh said he could not see any reason why the meeting could not happen.

He added that the public had been angry at the pomp and ceremony on display when the Irish bishops met the Pope in Rome last month.

Meanwhile, the head of the Catholic Church's board on child protection in Ireland has said gaps remain in the procedures for ensuring that children are safeguarded.

Ian Elliott, Chief Executive of the National Board for Safeguarding Children, said there were too many policies at local level and that changes were needed in a number of areas.

Ian Elliot'Too many policies'

'We don't have any national standards with regards to the management of risky people within the church, that is a major deficit for us,' he said.

In an interview with BBC Radio Ulster, Mr Elliott said it was necessary to redefine the policy which exists in relation to what is termed 'stepping aside' or 'administrative leave' when an allegation or complaint is made against a member of the clergy.'I think that isn't good enough at this point in time,' he added.