British Catholics see rise in abuse charges in 2010
July 28, 2011
The number of charges of sexual or physical abuse by Catholic Church officials in Britain doubled in 2010, the National Catholic Safeguarding Commmission (NCSC) has found.
The NCSC’s annual report shows a jump in the number of people accused—from 43 in 2009 to 92 last year. The group suspects that the increase can be attributable to publicity surrounding the visit to Great Britain by Pope Benedict XVI, the Pontiff’s meeting with abuse victims, and the subsequent rise in confidence that complaints would be handled discreetly and seriously.
Baroness Patricia Scotland, the former attorney general who chairs the NCSC, said that although much work remains to be done, she sees progress in the fight against abuse, saying that “we have made it much harder for to people to do this."
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Further information:
- Allegations of clerical abuse double in a year (Catholic Herald)
- Papal visit prompts new response in abuse reporting (Vatican Radio)
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