Abused child not to blame - church report

BIRMINGHAM - A Catholic Church report has emphasised that "the child is never responsible for sexual abuse" and criticised the…

BIRMINGHAM - A Catholic Church report has emphasised that "the child is never responsible for sexual abuse" and criticised the culture of disbelief "which made victims less likely to be listened to, Robert Nowell reports.

Published yesterday by the Catholic bishops' conference of England and Wales, the report follows guidelines published two years ago to enable the church to deal promptly, honestly and effectively with allegations of child abuse by priests and official church workers.