Child protection - Society won’t accept old practices

The Catholic Church’s new guidelines on child protection, announced by the Archbishop of Armagh Dr Seán Brady this week, have been welcomed in some quarters but strongly criticised in others as a retrograde step.

In accordance with the guidelines, the Church will appoint a director of child protection. This individual will immediately inform a bishop or a religious superior of any allegation of child abuse against members of the clergy.

An independent National Board for Child Protection will be set up - comprising of parents and professionals working in the areas of childcare, psychology, theology, law and education - to decide what action should be taken in relation to priests accused of child abuse.