Operation Protea Report on 'blind reporting' released in NSW
Late last week the NSW Police Integrity Commission (PIC) released its report into the involvement of NSW Police with the Catholic Church's Professional Standards Resource Group (PSRG) and Professional Standards Office (PSO) in NSW on what is known as 'blind reporting' of historic child sexual abuse allegations.
The investigation followed three stories on Lateline in mid-2013 in which it was claimed the Church in NSW 'had tried to strike a secret agreement with the NSW Police to allow it to withhold information about paedophile priests'.
Blind reporting is a practise unique to NSW of reporting an allegation of sexual abuse to the police without identifying the victim. All other information, including the name of the perpetrator, is provided.
Late last week the NSW Police Integrity Commission released its report into the involvement of NSW Police with the Catholic Church's Professional Standards Resource Group and Professional Standards Office in NSW.
The report looks into what is known as the 'blind reporting' of historic child sexual abuse allegations to the police. It has made a number of findings which will have a direct impact on the way Church authorities report historic cases of child sexual abuse to the police.
Also this week at CRA's National Assembly I heard US Josephite sister, Dr Carol Zinn speak about the challenges facing religious life and religious leaders. Sr Annette Cunliffe talked about the impact of the Royal Commission on the National Committee for Professional Standards and outlined steps towards reform.
Francis Sullivan, CEO of the Truth Justice and Healing Council and Sr Annette Cunliffe from the National Committee for Professional Standards spoke this week at Catholic Religious Australia's National Assembly in Brisbane.
Together they provided an update to around 180 people in religious leadership on plans for a new national Church body that will set, audit and publicly report on measures that further ensure safety for children and vulnerable people in Church institutions.
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UK's National Crime Agency reveals 'one in 35 men may be child abuser'
A shocking analysis by the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency has revealed that about one in 35 adult males poses a potential risk to children as an abuser or by seeking out child sex images online.
Phil Gormley, the Deputy Director General of the NCA, has called an urgent new approach to safeguard children.
THE NSW government has flagged it may further tighten child protection laws including a requirement for those in charge of organisations that deal with children to undergo child protection screening.
It follows the Royal Commission public hearing into Steven Larkins in September 2013 and how he was able to operate unchecked for almost 15 years, first as a Scout leader and then as the head of Hunter Aboriginal Children's Services.
Victorian Anglican Church to modernise governance to help any future victims of abuse
The Anglican Church in Victoria will soon become a company to allow any future child sexual abuse victims to sue for damages.
All five of the church's Victorian dioceses voted to incorporate following a recommendation by the 2013 Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse. Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne, Philip Freier, said "if we had an ideal world we would have had these things in place from the 1930s or 40s".
Royal Commission leads to more children in care: NSW Government
In New South Wales, the number of children removed from their families is soon to pass 20,000. According to the State Government, the increase is driven in part by heightened community awareness stemming from the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse. It's announced an extra $200 million over four years to meet the growing need. But many within the sector argue that extra funding will be wasted unless it's accompanied by meaningful reform.
The Royal Commission will hold a public hearing in Sydney commencing Monday 27 July 2015 to inquire into the Jehovah's Witnesses and Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia Ltd.
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