Irish Roman Jurisdiction of the Catholic Episcopate Launches Child Protection Web Site

Irish Roman Jurisdiction of the Catholic Episcopate Launches Child Protection Web Site

A Testimony of the Church's Commitment, Says Primate

MAYNOOTH, Ireland, OCT. 28, 2004 - The Web site of the Roman jurisdiction of the Catholic Church's Irish bishops' Child Protection Office is "a testimony of the Church's commitment" to safeguard young people in parishes, says the primate of all Ireland.

That is how the Roman Catholic Archbishop Sean Brady of Armagh welcomed the launching of the new site, www.cpo.ie, which provides resource and contact information for anyone working with children in a parish setting or anyone concerned about child protection.

Established in July 2001, the Child Protection Office provides advice to bishops, priests and lay people on the development and implementation of policies and procedures in the protection of minors in 26 dioceses of Ireland.

It is also a contact point for anyone concerned about the abuse -- past or present -- of a child or youth, and a source of information for anyone working with children in a parish setting.

The material available on the new Web site provides information for all clergy or laity working with children.

John Morgan, chairman of the bishops' Committee on Child Protection, said that the site is the latest development in the ongoing work of the protection office and "will prove ... to be a significant resource to all those working with children and young people in parishes across Ireland."

Among the sections of the site are those dedicated to: access to a local delegate via an interactive map of Ireland's 32 counties; instructions on how to make a complaint concerning child sexual abuse; most frequently asked questions; and child protection publications commissioned by the bishops' conference; archive of relevant press releases.