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Roman Catholic Church in Scotland issues apology for abuse | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Roman Catholic Church in Scotland has issued a "profound apology" to victims of abuse. | |
The apology from Archbishop Philip Tartaglia followed the report from a commission investigating abuse in the church. | |
Its report had called on the church to make an "unmistakeable and unequivocal" public apology. | |
It also said the church must "heal the hurt and address the anger" of victims. | |
The church asked Dr Andrew McLellan to lead a review of how it handles allegations of abuse, following a series of scandals. | The church asked Dr Andrew McLellan to lead a review of how it handles allegations of abuse, following a series of scandals. |
It took evidence from victims in a bid to improve support services and protect vulnerable children and adults. | It took evidence from victims in a bid to improve support services and protect vulnerable children and adults. |
Dr McLellan, a former moderator of the Church of Scotland, was tasked with coming up with proposals aimed at making the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland "a safe place for all". | Dr McLellan, a former moderator of the Church of Scotland, was tasked with coming up with proposals aimed at making the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland "a safe place for all". |
The 11 review commissioners, who include a senior police officer, a journalist and an MP, were tasked with assessing the quality of support available to survivors. | The 11 review commissioners, who include a senior police officer, a journalist and an MP, were tasked with assessing the quality of support available to survivors. |
'Absolute priority' | 'Absolute priority' |
It was not within the scope of the commission to investigate or adjudicate on current or historical allegations. | It was not within the scope of the commission to investigate or adjudicate on current or historical allegations. |
The commission made eight recommendations, including calling for support for survivors of abuse to be an "absolute priority". | The commission made eight recommendations, including calling for support for survivors of abuse to be an "absolute priority". |
It also said justice must be done for those who have been abused. | It also said justice must be done for those who have been abused. |
The report also recommended that the church's safeguarding policies and practices be completely rewritten and subject to external scrutiny. | The report also recommended that the church's safeguarding policies and practices be completely rewritten and subject to external scrutiny. |
It called for a consistent approach to dealing with allegations across Scotland and improved training for those in the church. | It called for a consistent approach to dealing with allegations across Scotland and improved training for those in the church. |
Mr McLellan said: "The Bishops' Conference of Scotland should make a public apology to all survivors of abuse within the church. | Mr McLellan said: "The Bishops' Conference of Scotland should make a public apology to all survivors of abuse within the church. |
"An apology must be made in a way that is unmistakeable and unequivocal." | "An apology must be made in a way that is unmistakeable and unequivocal." |
'Heal the hurt' | 'Heal the hurt' |
He added: "The Bishops have said from the outset that they will accept our recommendations. | He added: "The Bishops have said from the outset that they will accept our recommendations. |
"That means that three things will happen. | "That means that three things will happen. |
"First and most important a beginning will be made to heal the hurt and address the anger which so many survivors feel. | "First and most important a beginning will be made to heal the hurt and address the anger which so many survivors feel. |
"Second, the Catholic Church in Scotland will begin to confront a dark part of its past and find some healing for itself. | "Second, the Catholic Church in Scotland will begin to confront a dark part of its past and find some healing for itself. |
"Third, a significant step will be taken in restoring public credibility for the Catholic Church." | "Third, a significant step will be taken in restoring public credibility for the Catholic Church." |
His review was announced following a series of scandals. | His review was announced following a series of scandals. |
The Church faced allegations of abuse at the former Catholic boarding school at Fort Augustus Abbey in the Highlands. | The Church faced allegations of abuse at the former Catholic boarding school at Fort Augustus Abbey in the Highlands. |
The former leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, stepped down in February 2013 after admitting sexual misconduct. | The former leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, stepped down in February 2013 after admitting sexual misconduct. |
The church said it would make public annual audits of all allegations received by the church. | The church said it would make public annual audits of all allegations received by the church. |
It has published details of allegations dating from 2006 to 2012 and then for 2013. | It has published details of allegations dating from 2006 to 2012 and then for 2013. |
The church also said it would instigate a retrospective investigation of historic allegations, dating back to 1947 - with work continuing on that. | The church also said it would instigate a retrospective investigation of historic allegations, dating back to 1947 - with work continuing on that. |
It said any allegations uncovered as part of this, which had not been acted upon, would be passed to police for them to investigate. | It said any allegations uncovered as part of this, which had not been acted upon, would be passed to police for them to investigate. |