Leading the battle against abuse

The sexual abuse of children will always remain a threat and a challenge for the church – just as it is within all other sectors of society.
That stark realisation was one of the driving forces behind a five day conference that took place in Rome last week, bringing together experts and representatives from English-speaking bishops conferences in over 20 countries right across the world.
The annual Anglophone conference on the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults was hosted this year by the Church in England and Wales. It focused on ways of working together to provide the most effective protection against potential abusers, as well as bringing support and healing to victims.
Among the key speakers at the closed door meeting was Baroness Patricia Scotland, former British Attorney General and recently appointed chair of the National Catholic Safeguarding Commission in the UK. Philippa Hitchen caught up with her to find out more about the achievements of this conference and the challenges that lie ahead…..

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