The annual ‘Anglophone Conference’, which brings together child safeguarding experts and representatives from throughout the English-speaking Catholic Church, takes place this week in the Pontifical Irish College in Rome. This year the Irish Episcopal Conference is co-hosting the event along with the Episcopal Conference of Chile. .
The Anglophone Conference offers delegates an opportunity to share experiences and best practice throughout the English speaking Catholic world. In particular this year the Episcopal Conference delegates will reflect on ways in which support is being offered to survivors of abuse and on best practice in working with respondents (those accused of abuse). Several speakers with expertise in these fields will address the meeting.
Keynote speakers include Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin and Vice-President of the Irish Bishops’ Conference and Bishop Alejandro Goic, Bishop of Rancagua and President of the Chilean Conference of Bishops. Ms Marie Collins and Father Hans Zollner SJ, members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, are also to address the conference as is Monsignor Robert Oliver, the Promoter of Justice at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Dr Melissa Dermody, the Clinical Director of Towards Healing, the counselling referral service for survivors of abuse in Ireland, is to speak on restorative practice with survivors.
The Irish delegates are Archbishop Eamon Martin, Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh; Ms Teresa Devlin Chief Executive and Mr John Morgan Chairman, National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland; Mr Andrew Fagan, Director of the Child Safeguarding Office of the Archdiocese of Dublin and Ms Barbara McDermott, Director of the Child Safeguarding Office of the Diocese of Down & Connor.
The international delegates were welcomed to the Irish College by Cardinal Seán Brady and Monsignor Ciaran O’Carroll, Rector of the Pontifical Irish College, Rome.
ENDS
Notes for Editors
- For media inquiries contact Martin Long of the Catholic Communications Office in Maynooth, Ireland, 00 353 (0) 86 1727678.
- The Anglophone Conference started in 1996 in Ireland this year runs from Monday 7 July until Friday 11 July. Areas to be addressed during the 2014 conference include:
– Survivors support
– Canonical and Penal processes
– Working with Perpetrators
– Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors
- Fifty eight delegates from the following countries will be in attendance at the 2014 Anglophone Conference: Australia, Canada, Chile, England & Wales, India, Ireland, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Scotland, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and the United States of America.
