Will for transparency” “

COPCA – the Catholic Office for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults in England – published the results of its annual report for 2003 on 12 July. Established by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales in 2001 – when the Conference accepted Lord Nolan’s ‘Programme for Action’, an independent review of Child Protection in the Catholic Church in England and Wales -, the Office, which also includes non-Catholics, aims to monitor and intervene directly on violence and abuse within the Catholic community. COPCA was formed by the union of all 22 dioceses of England and Wales, as well as 138 of the religious congregations present in the territory. The office, directed by ELIEEN SHEARER , now represents one of the “strongest responses” of the Catholic Church in Great Britain to the cases of paedophilia and abuse that have erupted in the country. SOME DATA. According to the COPCA report for 2003, 65 cases of the abuse of children and adults have been ascertained; 52 of these involve abuse of sexual type, in large part reported within the dioceses. A total of 86 persons have been the victims of acts of violence, which comprise abuses of physical, psychological and emotional type, negligence or other types of offence. These figures give some idea of the emergency, but also testify to the will for transparency that is widespread among the Catholic community in England and Wales. The numbers in question, however, would need to be revised upwards – as the report itself admits – bearing in mind that some 30 % of children and adolescents, who have suffered abuses, tend not to reveal anything of what has happened. The COPCA report also presents a series of data on the provisions taken. The majority of the cases denounced are now – less than twelve month since they were reported – in the phase of investigation by the authorities or in the initial stages of the judicial process. Few sentences or verdicts have yet been issued, understandably if one thinks of the necessary investigations and controls. Thirty remedial measures, on the other hand, have been taken against priests by the dioceses or congregations themselves: especially suspensions and checks on suspects (seven provisions in both cases), but there have also been cases of removals from active ministry (four in all last year), restrictions on the exercise of ministry (again in four cases), or compulsory dismissal from the clerical state (two cases). As regards misconduct towards children, most of the denunciations, 22 in all, point the finger at diocesan priests, but also at volunteers (13 in all). A total of 132 reports on cases of sexual abuse and 16 on physical abuse were registered in 2002″. WISH FOR TRANSPARENCY. “The information contained in this annual report demonstrates how much effort and commitment there is on the part of the congregations and dioceses of England and Wales – declared ELIEEN SHEARER -. The constant recognition of this work by the bishops and the heads of the various congregations is of fundamental importance for going forward in our mission”. “Abuse – says the introduction to the report – is not a problem that exclusively concerns priests and religious; sadly, within the community of the Church the phenomenon also involves employees and volunteers”. The impression one gets from reading the report is, in short, one of growing courage and growing honesty: key requisities for the introduction of ever tougher controls at the local level, in the Church and in all communities. Today, explains Lord Nolan himself, the Catholic Church of England “should become an example for the best practices of prevention and active response to the abuses against minors. The main priority – he adds – is to implement preventive policies and measures that may really work in parishes, dioceses and congregations: policies that may lower to the minimum the risk of acts of violence being committed”. The activities of COPCO have also been commented on by its chairman, Archbishop VINCENT NICHOLS, who has underlined the importance of a “a common and collective work for the protection of children. There is no doubt of the cohesion of the Catholic community in this mission”. COPCA regards 2004 as “a still challenging year, but one to be tackled with an administrative team that is now proven and permanent, and more efficient also thanks to the consolidation of practices and procedures already begun”.