In its annual report for 2011-12, published last week, the National Catholic Safeguarding Commission (NCSC) criticised the diocese's decision to appeal against a High Court ruling that it could be held vicariously liable for abuse allegedly committed by the late Fr Wilfrid Baldwin in a Hampshire care home run by an order of nuns in the 1970s.
The Appeal Court upheld the High Court's decision on 12 July.
Speaking at the launch of the annual report, NSCS chairman Danny Sullivan said it was important to avoid the perception that the needs of victims of clerical abuse were not the Church's priority.