Scottish Catholic Observer

Rev Andrew McLellan (above left) – a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland – chaired a two-year long commission into safeguarding procedures in the Catholic Church which concluded 15 months ago. The report made 49 key recommendations, designed to prevent abuse from happening in future.

Rev McLellan and six other members of the commission have now written to the Church claiming that action is not being taken, survivors are not being supported and independent scrutiny is not being introduced.

In response, the assistant general secretary of the Scottish Bishops’ Conference, Fr Thomas Boyle, insisted the Church’s commitment to carrying out the report’s recommendations ‘has not diminished in any way’ and ‘every recommendation will be implemented.’

Rev McLellan’s letter to the Scottish bishops says that the three most substantial recommendations have been not been heeded.

“To put survivors first—first in the priority of their needs and first in helping to shape policy,” it says. “As far as we can tell from contacts with survivors that has not happened. To introduce an independent element into safeguarding within the Church. As far as we can tell from the safeguarding website of the Church, that has not happened. To be transparent and open in safeguarding. Not only do the Scottish public know nothing of the action taken in response to the report, as far as we can tell from Catholic friends, the members of the Church themselves know nothing.”

The letter goes on to say that ‘a year ago the bishops might have used the opportunity of the publication of the report to introduce systemic reform; now they are in danger of confirming the worst fears of survivors and observers by appearing to ignore its recommendations.’

“The one response the bishops must not make now is to say that things are being done ‘behind the scenes,’” it concludes. “That response would reveal that they have not understood the problem. If we feel frustrated and disappointed, how must survivors feel?”

Fr Thomas Boyle said that three months after the report was published ‘the Bishops published a detailed implementation plan, describing how all of the recommendations would be acted upon. The plan was posted online and open to consultation and comment.’

He said that as ‘all the records of the commission had been destroyed and he could not divulge which survivors had been consulted, approaching those individuals was not possible’ but that survivors’ needs had still informed policy, with one survivor who met Archbishop Philip Tartaglia (above, right) speaking of feeling ‘more at peace now, than for a long time.’

He also said that the Raphael: Opening the Doors to Healing Counseling Service for anyone abused within the Church was launched in October 2015, two months after the publication of the McLellan Report.

“An independent review group as recommended by the Commission is being established,” he continued. “A chair has accepted and the members are being confirmed. They will be announced after the December meeting of the Bishops’ Conference. The group’s first task will be to review the progress of the first 12 months of the implementation plan.

“Transparency and openness are at the heart of the Church’s Safeguarding mission. No other church, charity or public body in Scotland publishes detailed annual audits nor have any undertaken a public consultation, as the Bishops’ Conference did on its implementation Plan.”

Fr Boyle added that Dr McLellan had described the bishops’ decision to ask a minister of the Church of Scotland to carry out this review as demonstrating ‘ecumenical trust’ and ‘generosity of spirit.’ He said that since the Church allowed Dr McLellan two years to write his recommendations, it is to be hoped that ‘in the same spirit of trust and generosity of spirit, the Church will be given at least the same amount of time to implement them.’