MACSAS welcomes inquiries into Child Abuse within the Catholic Church in England & Wales
MACSAS welcomes the inquiry into child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church in the South West of England ordered by Bishop Budd of Plymouth, and to be carried out by the NSPCC. The scale of the abuse of children over decades at Buckfast Abbey now being uncovered as victims report cases of abuse to church and police authorities, reinforces the concerns long expressed by MACSAS and other survivor groups that the abuse of children by clergy and members of religious communities in this country was widespread and pervasive for decades, and that Church authorities continue to this day to cover up the scale of the abuse that took place (see the MACSAS Survey report “The Stones Cry Out” May 2011 at www.macsas.org.uk)
MACSAS calls for the inquiry to be extended both in terms of remit and scope and in terms of geographic area. The inquiry should cover the whole of England and Wales and should look into the institutional dynamics with allowed child sex offenders to continue in ministry, and to continue to abuse children, for decades after they were first reported to Authorities. The inquiry should also investigate the role of senior church officials within the Catholic church, in moving priests and religious around the country and, as in the case of Mowat (Northampton), Clonan and Robinson (Birmingham) paying them whilst they were on the run overseas for years and decades, even though arrest warrants were outstanding against them in this country.
MACSAS also welcomes the inquiry ordered by the Vatican into child sexual abuse at Ealing Abbey following the conviction of David Pearce in 2009 and another monk recently fled whilst on bail. However with a Bishop and the head of the Benedictine Order in England leading up the inquiry it is hard to see how this will lead to an open and transparent investigation that reveals the truth of what happened.
MACSAS calls for the a national inquiry into child sexual abuse within all Dioceses and Religious Congregations, to include all Schools and other children’s Institutions run by the Catholic Church and its religious congregations.
MACSAS calls again for the Catholic Church to provide funding and resources to support the victims of abuse who are coming forward across the country (see www.macsas.org.uk). The lack of any response from Bishops and leaders of religious congregations to the needs of those so grievously harmed by abuse perpetrated by clergy and members of religious communities, is truly scandalous when they know of the harm caused to victims and the re-traumatising impact of reporting cases to police and church authorities.
For further enquiries or comments please contact
Anne Lawrence; Chair MACSAS on 07939574368
Dr Margaret Kennedy; Founder MACSAS on 07740945385
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