The call for police checks followed the publication last week of the first independent report into child protection in the Catholic church in England and Wales, and is one of 50 recommendations aimed at making the church environment safer and more secure for children. The report, compiled by a committee headed by Lord Nolan, builds on guidelines on preventing child abuse published in 1994, with proposals aimed at improving existing diocesan and national structures and procedures, so that parishes are supported in their efforts to protect children in their care.
Recommendations include the requirement for applicants for any type of church work to disclose details of criminal offences against children, the creation of a designated child protection representative in every Catholic parish, and the development of a child protection co-ordinator for every religious order and diocese. According to the committee, these appointments would help guidelines to be implemented and regularly reviewed and ensure a swift response to any allegations that might arise.
Other proposals include the setting up of a small national child protection unit to provide support and expert advice to dioceses and religious orders, the establishment of a single national database of information on all applicant candidates for ordination, and the setting up of pastoral provision to help victims.
The report, which will be considered at the conference of Catholic Bishops of England and Wales later this week, was welcomed by its president, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, who is also Archbishop of Westminster. He said, 'We are committed to ensuring the Catholic church becomes the safest place for children, and I am sure this report, and the ongoing work of the review, will help us achieve this.'
The report was welcomed by children's charities. Michelle Elliott, director of children's charity Kidscape, said, 'I'm delighted and I commend the report, and will be very pleased if the bishops act on the recommendations. However, if it just gets shelved, it will be useless.'
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children called on the Roman Catholic church to act on the recommendations with urgency. Neil Hunt, head of NSPCC children's services, said, 'Church leaders have a responsibility to ensure that these child protection measures are exemplary.'
