Priests in the Diocese of Ferns have volunteered to be vetted by the Garda. The diocese has confirmed that it has received completed forms from over 70% of priests and will be issuing reminders to the rest. The initiative came from the Diocesan Child Protection Committee, made up of lay people and clergy and was backed by Bishop Denis Brennan, who was the first to be vetted by gardai.
It appears the bishop's advisers saw the initiative as furthering best practice and demonstrating good leadership.
Bishop Brennan then issued a letter to all priests last October to voluntarily sign up to the vetting initiative.
The Ferns diocese is also this week issuing a newsletter update to all parishes on what has been done regarding the safeguarding of children and what remains to be done.
According to the Diocesan Communication Office which is publishing the newsletter, the first of such since the release of the Ferns Report in 2005, parish representatives have been commissioned in most of the 49 parishes.
These lay representatives will be the first port of call for anyone worried about a child's safety. A spokesman confirmed that the diocese is also meeting all of its obligations from Church and civil authorities in reporting all allegations of child sexual abuse involving priests, to the Holy See, the Diocesan advisory panel, the Garda and the HSE at inter-agency meetings.
All recommendations and directives received from these bodies have been implemented.
When asked if the vetting procedure may be expanded to lay people working in Catholic schools and institutions, the spokesman said the focus remains on completing the procedure for priests.
Once referred to as the worst diocese in the world for abuse, it appears that Ferns is putting its house in order.Future reports due from the Children's Ombudsman and commissions of investigation, on the efforts being made to safeguard children, will reveal whether other religious and State institutions have followed suit.
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(Source: IC)