On Tuesday, 10 November 2020, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse released its report on the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

Here is a Bishops’ Conference statement on the report.

Chair

Baroness Nuala O’Loan is the chair this Council, which has representatives from both the Bishops’ Conference and the Conference of Religious.

What it does

This Council supports the numerous organisations that make up the Catholic Church in England and Wales and speaks with and for the Church.

It ensures that the evidence required by the Inquiry is collated appropriately.

Baroness O’Loan said:

“The role of the Council is to facilitate and ensure the proper response to the Enquiry, which has the Church’s full support. We look forward to hearing their specific requests and will ensure full co-operation with their deliberations.”

The Church is committed to the safeguarding of all children and vulnerable adults and following two independent inquiries both Dioceses and Religious Orders are committed to following nationally agreed guidelines and robust policies to promote safeguarding. All allegations of abuse are immediately reported to the police and the Church co-operates fully with any subsequent investigation by the statutory authorities.

Full Membership

The Catholic Council to assist IICSA:

Baroness Nuala O’Loan
Chair 

Bishop Marcus Stock 
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales

Canon Chris Thomas
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales

Ms Valerie Nazareth
Conference of Religious General Secretary

Bishop Stephen Wright
Archdiocese of Birmingham

Dom Christopher Jamison OSB
Abbot President of the English Benedictine Congregation

Sister Lyndsay Spendalow
Conference of Religious

Colette Limbrick
Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service

Dr Helen Costigan
Canon lawyer

Msgr Gordon Reed
Canon lawyer

Contact

Canon Christopher Thomas
General Secretary, CBCEW

christopher.thomas@cbcew.org.uk

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