Child Protection Working Group

The Alliance welcomes Report from the Child Protection Working Group

The Alliance committee welcomes the report into the Churches Child Protection Policy outlined by their working group on Friday the 4th June 2004.

Terms of Reference

"To develop comprehensive and integrated child protection policy for the Irish Catholic Church. This policy will encompass all Church related activities and personnel (including volunteers)in Ireland, North and South.

The policy will be rooted in best practice for the safety and welfare of children, and specific guidelines on the management of concerns and allegations regarding child protection. This policy will be consistent with civil law, "Children First" and relevent statutory procedures. It will also be consistent with all relevent Church Law so as to be normative".

The projected presentation is a very important document of our time. Set against the background of what is for the Catholic Church in Ireland a very painful period of soul searching we believe that the Working Group have taken all areas of concern on board and now challenge the Bishop's Conference at Maynooth to implement it.

It is our hope that all those who have a genuine interest in Victim Support will support this document and will see its acceptance of this report by the Bishops and the sincere apology made by Archbishop Sean Brady of Armagh as an acknowledgement by the Church that they are now ready to work with us for reconciliation.