Inquiry to scrutinise Churches

An independent inquiry into child sexual abuse in the UK will investigate the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches, its head Justice Lowell Goddard has announced, writes Rose Gamble.

Justice Goddard, from New Zealand, explained that investigations into the Catholic Church would involve specific case studies to identify whether they are representative of “wider failings within the Catholic Church”. The first study will be the English Benedictine Congregation, which has been the subject of a number of abuse inquiries.

Peter Saunders, founder of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood and an adviser to the Goddard Inquiry, said he approved of the way in which the investigation into the Catholic Church was being structured. He added that he had faith in Justice Goddard and was firmly behind the investigation, seeing it as an opportunity to “cleanse” the Catholic Church of its historical connections with child abuse.

“The Goddard Inquiry, with the resources that are being put into it, provides a massive opportunity to get some of the way into doing this,” he said. “It’s a big battle, but we’re going to win the war.”

The Church of England also welcomed the inquiry and requested that it be one of the first institutions investigated. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, added that he would order his own inquiry if there were a lengthy delay.

The investigation into the Churches will be headed by Professor Malcolm Evans from the University of Bristol, an expert in international law.