Church moves to block child abuse

Wednesday January 26th 2005

A COMPREHENSIVE new child protection policy that covers even the use of computers and photos in church settings has been launched by the Presbyterian Church.

Called 'Taking Care', it is going into force nationwide and will require the vetting of everyone in the Church who works with children.

The policy is an update on child protection guidelines first introduced in 1996.

Launching the document, Lindsay Conway, Presbyterian director of social services, said: "No denomination is immune from the problem of trusted adults misusing their position. This requires a response which is both aimed at prevention and care for those who have been mistreated."

He said it would protect children from abuse, but that it would also protect leaders, teachers and helpers "in the event of false accusation".

Mr Conway stated that although there has been no high profile case of child abuse involving Presbyterian Church workers, "concerns have arisen over the years which have been dealt with both by Church and statutory authorities".

He said that a particular concern was the use of computers and images of children in church settings. "Children are now a mouse-click away from an abuser because of chat-rooms" and this meant great care must be taken to ensure that church computers could not be used to this end.

The guidelines also say that no photograph of a child can be used in a church-designed website or publication without the permission of the parents.

Mr Conway said that the overall purpose of the policy was to define abuse, detect abusers, and then set out what should always be done in cases when abuse or suspected abuse is brought to light.

'Taking Care' defines abuse as physical, sexual or emotional in nature and includes neglect.

Presbyterian Moderator, Dr Ken Newell, who was present for yesterday's launch, said the guidelines were being issued so that all parents would be reassured that a church setting was safe for their children.

He stated: "Accidents do happen, but negligence or a breach in procedures is a different story. Adults who work with children and young people should be recruited and selected in the most vigilant manner. The leaders in turn should be safe in the knowledge that they have clear guidelines and have access to good support and advice."

Dr Newell continued: "We as a church are ever conscious that we are vulnerable and that abusers can gravitate towards the Church. Our duty is based on the Gospel. We did not need a piece of legislation - it was always there - 'Suffer the little children to come unto me'."

One of the policy's main requirements is that all Church personnel wishing to work with children must first be cleared by the police and that references should be supplied by two their previous employers.

In the North all child-workers can be vetted by police. In the South only State employees working with children are vetted by gardai.

David Quinn
Religious Affairs Correspondent

? Irish Independent