AUSTRALIA
Perth Now
EXCLUSIVE
APRIL 19, 2014
CHILD safety officers would be appointed in parishes across Perth under a proposal to eradicate sex abuse in the Catholic Church.
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe recently outlined to senior church personnel a draft policy to appoint child safeguarding officers with specialist training.
Common in the UK, the officers take a key role in responding to allegations of abuse and advise parishes on child protection policies.
A spokesman for Archbishop Costelloe said he was “keen to act as swiftly as possible” to strengthen the protective measures already in place.
In his Easter Sunday message, Archbishop Costelloe will today reflect on the “terrible history of abuse perpetrated by some of our diocesan clergy”.
The sermon comes days after Perth priest Patrick Holmes admitted sexually abusing two young girls more than 30 years ago.
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