BishopAccountability.org

Child safety in the Catholic Church now its "first consideration", reports find

By Jack Quann
Newstalk
December 2, 2015

http://www.newstalk.com/Catholic-Church-child-safety-improvements-NBSCCCI-safeguarding-orders-congregations

The graveyard at the Bessborough Centre in Blackrock, Cork - formerly Bessborough House mother and baby home

The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI) says child safety in the church is now its "first consideration".

The NBSCCCI has published a set of 20 reviews which they say "reinforces" progress made.

Full reviews were carried out on the Legionaries of Christ, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and The Mercy Sisters - as all three continue to have contact with children.

The other 17 orders and congregations had a more limited review carried out, as they have little or no contact with children and no allegations of sexual abuse levelled against them.

"All 20 reviews showed good safeguarding practice, prompt reporting of allegations to the civil authorities and to managing risk", the NBSCCCI says.

"What we are seeing here are a series of good habits having been created," said Teresa Devlin, CEO of the NBSCCCI.

"Reporting to the civil authorities is prompt, case files are recorded correctly and risk is properly assessed".

"But what is most heartening here is that child safeguarding is an engrained component of the religious life and child related activities of these orders and congregations. It has become a reflex and their first consideration".

In carrying out the full reviews of the three orders, it was found that 53 allegations had been made against 44 priests, brothers or sisters between 1941 and 2009.

None of them had resulted in a conviction.

It adds that the three orders have "good liaison with the civil authority agencies", who regularly advise on the management of risk and significant improvements in reporting allegations to civil authority agencies.

The 17 smaller reviews included a large number of female congregations, who are increasing in age profile, but declining in numbers - along with one male order with no allegations and limited ministry with children.

Among the female orders there was one allegation of emotional abuse, which the NBSCCCI says has been "appropriately dealt with".

"Even with these orders and congregations, despite the reduced relevance of their ministries from a child safeguarding perspective, there is a strong sense of commitment to working positively with the National Board," Ms Devlin added.

The remaining 17 orders and congregations are:

  • Benedictine Monks Rostrevor
  • Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
  • Dominican Sisters of Catherine of Siena 
  • La Sainte Union Sisters
  • Little Sisters of the Assumption
  • Little Sisters of the Poor
  • Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit
  • Our Lady of the Cenacle Sisters
  • Redemptoristines (Order of the Most Holy Redeemer)
  • Religious of Jesus and Mary Sisters
  • Salesian Sisters
  • Sisters of Perpetual Adoration 
  • Sisters of Sr. Claire
  • Sisters of St Marie Madeleine Postel
  • Sisters of the Holy Family of Emile Rodat 
  • St Joseph of Annecy Sisters
  • Ursulines of the Irish Union Sisters

 




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