Church wants to share expertise on responding to abuse

The Catholic Church in Ireland has expressed its desire to share what it has learned in recent years on how to respond effectively to child sexual abuse.

The wish is contained in a pastoral reflection for Lent issued by the Irish Bishops' Conference today.

Speaking at the launch of the document in Maynooth, Co Kildare, the Bishop of Limerick, Dr Donal Murray, said the church had learned a great deal about measures needed to deal effectively with abuse.

He said understanding the impact of abuse on victims was the first step towards healing.