Making the Church a safe place for children

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 here in Rome last week, bringing together experts and representatives from English-speaking bishops conferences in 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 in which national churches can learn from each other to provide the most effective protection against potential abusers, as well as bringing support and healing to victims.

To find out how much progress the Church has made in tackling this scourge and ensuring the safety of children in its care, Philippa Hitchen spoke with some of the participants ,including Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide in Australia and Archbishop George Mpundu of Lusaka, Zambia...

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