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London, England, 20 October 2022, 19:30 (CNA).
Following the publication of an independent inquiry on Thursday, the Catholic Church in England and Wales issued a “unreserved apology” to all victims of sexual abuse inside the Church.
On October 20, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse released a report on child sex abuse in England and Wales.
The report examines the handling of abuse cases through a national lens and focuses in-depth on several institutions and organizations, including the Catholic Church, concluding, “The investigation into the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales revealed a sad history of child sexual abuse where abusive priests and members of religious orders and institutions preyed on children for extended periods of time.”
The report continues by stating that the Church has failed to support victims while simultaneously taking “constructive action” to safeguard perpetrators and the Church’s reputation.
The Catholic Council for the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which was established in 2015 to coincide with the start of the national inquiry’s work, issued a statement in response to the report’s release, reiterating the Church’s regret over grave failures and its commitment to making the Church a safe place for children and vulnerable people in the present and the future.
The statement read, “Today, after seven years of work, the Independent Inquiry Panel on Child Sexual Abuse delivered its final findings.” The Catholic Council welcomes this report, expresses gratitude for the Inquiry’s efforts, and will thoroughly examine its contents and recommendations.
“The Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales will never cease its efforts to make the life and work of the Church safe for all those who are members or have contact with it.
“Before the November 2020 release of the case study report on the Roman Catholic Church, the Church commissioned an independent examination of its safeguarding work and institutions, which is currently being carried out. The new national safeguarding body, the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA), which began operational work in April 2021, provides a regulatory function to organisations within the Church in England and Wales, ensuring that all safeguarding processes are adhered to and standards are maintained. These modifications were consistent with the case study report’s recommendations from the Inquiry.
“The voice of abuse victims and survivors has been an intrinsic part of the development of this new organization, and is crucial to this progress. The Church remains dedicated to humbly listening to those who have been harmed by the conduct of Church members, so that their experiences can guide our work.
“It is crucial that we once again extend an unreserved apology to all those who have been harmed by abuse in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, and that we reaffirm our commitment to the ongoing refinement and improvement of our safeguarding work to protect all children and the vulnerable.”
The research on the extent of child sexual abuse in England and Wales finds that between 1970 and 2015, the Catholic Church received more than 3,000 complaints against more than 900 Church-affiliated persons.
During this period, the report indicates that there were 177 prosecutions and 133 convictions, and that civil proceedings involving abuse victims and survivors cost millions of pounds.
Continuing to focus on the case study of the Church in England and Wales, the report adds, “Each year since 2016, more than 100 allegations of recent and historical child sexual abuse have been reported.” The true scale of misuse over the past 50 years is probably far greater.”
The study says, “Although there have been some improvements to present safeguarding measures, more recent audits have uncovered flaws. The Roman Catholic Church’s culture and attitudes have proved resistant to change.”
In addition, the research highlights the Church of England’s inability to effectively support and comprehend victims of sexual assault, as well as its priority with safeguarding its name over protecting the vulnerable.
It found that 390 Church of England members were convicted of sexual offenses against children between the 1940s and 2018.
The report suggested the introduction of a law making it illegal to fail to report sexual abuse of children. It would apply to individuals who work with children and who have been informed of abuse by offenders or children.