Bishops' initiative criticised by abuse victim group

A SEXUAL abuse victim support group last night described voluntary vetting offered by Northern Catholic bishops as "a rather ridiculous gimmick".

One in Four spokesman Colm O'Gorman was responding to a statement by Archbishop Seán Brady, Primate of All Ireland, at the bishops' March meeting in Maynooth.

Archbishop Brady announced the nine Northern bishops were voluntarily submitting themselves for vetting by the North's child protection services. Archbishop Brady said he hoped the new measures would show the Church was willing to learn from the past.