CATHOLIC PRIMATE Cardinal Seán Brady has sought a "written commitment" from every bishop and Catholic Church leader to implement all statutory guidelines on safeguarding children from abuse.
In his first public comment since a damning report on child protection practices in Cloyne diocese was published last month, Cardinal Brady said the findings had "brought further anxiety to victims of abuse".
It had also "brought into question the efforts of thousands of volunteers and trained personnel who are fully committed to implementing statutory guidelines and agreed church policies on safeguarding children".
The cardinal made no comment on Bishop John Magee of Cloyne, who has been coming under pressure to resign.
Since the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland report was published on December 19th, no bishop nor any senior figure in the Catholic Church has spoken publicly in support of Dr Magee.
The board was set up by the Catholic bishops in 2006 as an independent watchdog to monitor child protection practices in the church. Its report found that child protection practices in Cloyne diocese were "inadequate and in some respects dangerous". It concluded the policy of the diocese in its contacts with the Garda was to give "minimal" information.
In his statement last night, Cardinal Brady said the board "was set up to ensure that lessons already painfully learnt were translated into verifiable and accountable structures of best practice. It plays a critical role in giving public confidence to the commitment of every bishop, leader of a religious congregation and missionary society to put right the mistakes of the past".
"I have been in contact with the chair and CEO of the national board and I can confirm that the board will seek a written commitment from every bishop, every religious congregation and missionary society to implement all statutory guidelines and the agreed policy of the Bishops' Conference, the Irish Missionary Union and the Conference of Religious of Ireland. I give my own assurance that I will immediately sign any such commitment on behalf of the Archdiocese of Armagh," he said.
He had also suggested that the board might conduct a review of current child safeguarding practice in every Irish diocese, in co-operation with relevant statutory authorities.
The board had "demonstrated an ability to investigate rigorously, report courageously and . . . have its recommendations accepted", he said.