Scottish Catholic Observer

The Church in Scotland has unveiled a new three-step programme to increase transparency and ‘eliminate abuse’ by clergy.

In a letter read out at all of Scotland’s 500 Catholic parishes last Sunday, Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow spoke on behalf of Scotland’s bishops, saying the Church has learned from the mistakes of the past.

“We recognise the trauma and pain that survivors of abuse have suffered and we are committed to providing for them both justice and healing,” the president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland says.

Archbishop Tartaglia (above) went on to say that 2013 had been ‘a test of faith’ for Scottish Catholics, but the Church was committed to ‘consolidation of our safeguarding practices, the renewal of trust in our unshakeable commitment to atoning for abuse in the past, guarding against abuse in the present and eliminating abuse in the future, and supporting those who have been harmed.’

Archbishop Tartaglia also said the Church was launching the three new initiatives ‘in a spirit of openness and transparency,’ and in recognition of the fact that ‘safeguarding is a priority within the Church, and all who work in the Church must realise this.’

The first initiative is the publication of all Diocesan Safeguarding Audits from 2006-2012, giving a statistical breakdown of reported safeguarding incidents during those years.

These figures show a total of 46 allegations were reported, of which 55 per cent related to sexual abuse.

The second initiative will be an external ‘Review of Safeguarding Protocols and Procedures’ which will assess the suitability and robustness of safeguarding procedures and the quality and rigour of their implementation nationally. This  review will be directed by Very Rev Dr Andrew McLellan, CBE, former moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and formerly Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons.

Finally, the Church will also carry out a statistical review of all historic cases of abuse from 1947-2005, and report back next year.

Dr McLellan said he agreed to take on the role to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults.

“I have agreed to chair the review panel which will instigate and complete a review of ‘awareness and safety’ in the Catholic Church in Scotland,” he said.

“My appointment is a generous sign of respect not simply for me but for the Church of Scotland; and I am pleased to be able to help the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland in what has been for them a difficult year. But my first concern is not to support the Catholic Church: rather it is to seek the best protection of many vulnerable children and adults.

“Over the remaining weeks of 2013, I hope to turn my attention to these matters so that I can announce the particulars of the review process and structure early in 2014.”

Tina Campbell, the Catholic Church’s newly appointed national coordinator for safeguarding, said the announcement signified an impressive new approach by the Church.

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—This story ran in full in the November 29 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes.