Church ‘desire’ to limit child protection board

The former head of the Catholic Church’s child protection watchdog fears a “desire” exists within the Church hierarchy to limit “by covert means” the role of the safeguarding board.

Ian Elliot stood down as chief executive of the board last year and said for the last four years his budget at the National Board for Safeguarding Children (NBSCCCI) was cut.

Writing in religious journal The Furrow, he called for an overhaul of the rules whereby the watchdog can only investigate a diocese or order by invitation, and not solely because of child protection concerns.