Catholic workers face checks

Helen Gilbert
Wednesday, April 25, 2001

The Roman Catholic church in England and Wales has been urged to carry out police checks on all clergy, staff and volunteers who come into contact with children, in a bid to stamp out child abuse and restore confidence in priests. 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.