Statement by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church

8th July 2011

The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church has noted the news report of 30th June in The Irish Times, and subsequent opinion article of 7th July, making the point

that some Catholic Bishops were still refusing to co-operate with the Church’s own audit into child protection practices in its dioceses.

As stated by the Board in its Annual Report 2010, published on 11th May last, an agreed set of documents was finalised in March of this year to enable the revival of the diocesan audit process. This audit process was stalled due to data protection concerns since the summer of 2010. The Board’s recent Annual Report further stated that only three diocesan audits had been completed.

Since the recommencement of the audit process in late April of this year, the Board can confirm that three further diocesan audits will have been completed by the end of this month. It is the firm belief of the National Board that this impetus will be maintained over the coming year.

Since the data protection issue in relation to diocesan audits has been resolved to the Board’s satisfaction, the Board has experienced no refusal to cooperate by bishops with the audit. Rather there is a commitment to the Board, by the bishops, to support this process and to go forward in partnership to foster, throughout the Catholic Church, best practice child safeguarding.

ENDS