SCOTLAND
Scottish Catholic Observer
The bishops of Scotland have met with a leading Vatican exert on prevention of clergy abuse of children as part of their efforts to learn from past cases and continue to develop best practice.
Mgr Robert Oliver travelled to Salamanca in Spain to address the bishops during an in-service session at the end of January. Bishop Joseph Toal of Motherwell said it was part of the bishop’s desire to ‘demonstrate to survivors a willingness to listen and an expression of understanding in the context of carefully prepared personal meetings.’
“The Catholic Church in Scotland is committed to learning from past mistakes, developing best practice and allowing external scrutiny of our work,” he said. “The priority principle must be assistance to the victims of abuse.”
Pope Francis appointed Mgr Oliver as the new secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors last year. The Pope established the commission to advise him directly and to propose initiatives to encourage local responsibility within the Church.
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