1. Update on Training

The pilot programme for training in the Archdiocese is being run in conjunction with the Bishops’ Child Protection Office. We plan to run our first training programme on May 6^th and 7^th. Thereafter we plan to develop further programmes.

2. Episcopal Conference

The Episcopal Conference met in the middle of March in Maynooth. One of the items on the agenda was the Stewardship Trust and the new Church Guidelines for the Protection of Children. In the “In the News” section, there are a few items pertaining to the Stewardship Trust. These include a press release of 10 March 2005 in relation to funding for costs relating to child abuse issues within the Archdiocese. The national guidelines have been sent to Rome for “recognitio”. This means that the Bishops are requesting Rome to approve the guidelines for use within the Irish Church.

3. Departures and Arrivals

Mr Paul Bailey of the Bishops’ Child Protection Office has moved on to a new post with the Ombudsman for Children (www.oco.ie). We wish him every success in his new role. We also welcome Sr Colette Stevenson who has taken over Paul’s role in the Bishops’ Child Protection Office and wish her well.

3. Latest items on the Child Protection Service Website

News and Press Sections

·         March 31 - Archbishop Diarmuid Martin indicates he does not have money to deal with clerical child abuse claims … http://www.cps.dublindiocese.ie/article_154.shtml

·         March 18 - Irish bishops have launched a review of a central clerical abuse compensation fund that is almost depleted following a steep rise in the cost of claims that have reached €5 million in the last two years alone … http://www.cps.dublindiocese.ie/article_153.shtml

·         March 11 - Dublin's Catholic Archdiocese has paid €4.9 million in settlements arising from child sex abuse to date, according to new figures ... http://www.cps.dublindiocese.ie/article_152.shtml

·         March 6 - A member of the Catholic Church’s working group on child sexual abuse, which disbanded in disgust last September, has denied a claim that her former group "unanimously endorses" a new church report entitled Our Children, Our Church ... http://www.cps.dublindiocese.ie/article_148.shtml

·         March 6 - Ireland's Catholic Bishops will meet in Maynooth next week to decide how best to raise new funds to meet the expected €50 million bill for clerical sex abuse victims ... http://www.cps.dublindiocese.ie/article_149.shtml

Press Release Section

·         The Archdiocese of Dublin has begun a process of consultation to examine the most appropriate way it can continue to provide care and assist with counselling of victims of child sex abuse by priests, as well fund claims in future ... http://www.cps.dublindiocese.ie/article_151.shtml

Links Section

·         Our links to other sites are a useful resource. If you can think of other possible links, let us know about them … http://www.cps.dublindiocese.ie/Links_Page2.shtml

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