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Allister raises paedophile issue with Justice Minister

18 May 2011

TUV leader Jim Allister has raised the issue of Vatican guidelines which insist bishops, rather than the police, should deal with child abuse cases in the first instance.

Mr Allister said:

“I am appalled that a letter issued by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and circulated to Roman Catholic clergy should state that “the responsibility for dealing with cases of sexual abuse of minors belongs, in the first place, to Bishops”.

“Any case of child sex abuse should be brought to the attention of the forces of law and order without delay. I have therefore tabled the following question to the Justice Minister for priority written answer:

To ask the Minister of Justice what representations he has made, or intends to make, to the Roman Catholic Church highlighting that when dealing with child abuse cases, responsibility lies with the PSNI and does not belong 'in the first place to bishops' as stated in a recent letter issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and circulated to Roman Catholic clergy.

“The history of child sex abuse within the Roman Catholic Church is a sad and tragic one and it would seem from this letter that the Church has still not learned from how cases were handled in the past. I sincerely hope the Justice Minister will make it abundantly clear that such an approach is unacceptable.”

 

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