INTERNAL audits into child protection have been
completed in six dioceses, with the Diocese of
Raphoe likely to publish its report "in the near future".
The audits have been conducted by the National Board
for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCC), the chief
executive of which has already said he would like the findings of any
audits to be published.
At present that decision lies with the bishops in each of the dioceses, and on Sunday Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said "hiding isn’t helping" when asked about the fact that the audits have not yet been made public.
In the aftermath of the publication of the Cloyne report last week, both Justice Minister Alan Shatter and Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald said it would be helpful if those audits were published.
It is understood, however, if there was a perceived delay in the publication of any of the audits, the HSE’s inspection mechanism could be targeted within specific dioceses to ensure relevant information is not withheld.
The NBSCC hopes to complete a review of all the dioceses by next year, after which the religious and missionary societies will be processed.
Abuse survivor and campaigner Andrew Madden said the reviews were "limited" and "part of the jig-saw", and should be accompanied by HSE audits.
At present that decision lies with the bishops in each of the dioceses, and on Sunday Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said "hiding isn’t helping" when asked about the fact that the audits have not yet been made public.
In the aftermath of the publication of the Cloyne report last week, both Justice Minister Alan Shatter and Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald said it would be helpful if those audits were published.
It is understood, however, if there was a perceived delay in the publication of any of the audits, the HSE’s inspection mechanism could be targeted within specific dioceses to ensure relevant information is not withheld.
The NBSCC hopes to complete a review of all the dioceses by next year, after which the religious and missionary societies will be processed.
Abuse survivor and campaigner Andrew Madden said the reviews were "limited" and "part of the jig-saw", and should be accompanied by HSE audits.
In its July newsletter, the NBSCC outlines other steps being prepared to bolster child protection in the Church, including "a draft procedure in relation to leave from sacred ministry", approved by the Conference of Religious in Ireland and the Irish Missionary Union "but is still waiting for final clearance by the Bishops’ Conference.
Meanwhile, there has been no update from the Vatican’s representative in Ireland regarding the demand from Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore for "an explanation" of the Vatican’s role in briefing against the reporting of child abuse claims, as highlighted in the Cloyne Report.
A spokesman for the papal nuncio, Dr Giuseppe Leanza, responded with a "no comment" when asked if there was any indication that correspondence from the Vatican could be forthcoming on the issue.