Dublin, Ireland, Dec 1, 2011 / 11:27 am
New reviews of six Irish dioceses show that the Catholic Church in Ireland is dedicated to “complete transparency and accountability” about allegations of clerical sex abuse and that its child protection systems are improving, an official with the independent review board says.
“(W)e have seen a huge leap forward in this and full credit goes to the bishops and their diocesan teams who are implementing the standards for safeguarding children in the Church,” Ian Elliot, chief executive of Ireland’s National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church, told Vatican Radio.
On Nov. 30 the board published its reviews of six Irish dioceses and how they handled allegations. The reviews focused on the current safeguarding framework in each diocese and did not set out to analyze past practice.
The summary report of the reviews declared a “marked improvement” in the reporting of allegations to civil authorities “promptly and comprehensively.” There is also comprehensive acceptance of the need to create and maintain a safe environment for children, the report’s executive summary said.