Scottish Catholic Observer

The McLellan Commission was tasked with carrying out an independent review of abuse handling within our Church and its chairman—Dr Andrew McLellan, a former Church of Scotland Moderator and a former head of HMI prison inspectorate—was ‘deeply distressed by the depth of cruelty and wickedness of some of the stories of which are in the report.’ Rather than draw a line under cases of abuse of children and vulnerable adults within the Church and its affiliated religious groups—both historical and more recent cases—and any mishandling, the Church, like the rest of society, can and must learn from this report about how to handle matters that are sensitive and confidential with the both the necessary standards of professionalism and transparency expected today.

Two points remain: Firstly, although some have routinely linked this independent review specifically on abuse handling to admissions by Cardinal Keith O’Brien about his private life prior to his resignation in February 2013, the two matters remain separate although difficult issues for the Scottish Church and the Catholic community. Both are, however, part of what Dr McLellan has referred to as a ‘culture of secrecy’ within the Church. Secondly, as for confidence in the Church among the lay Faithful and the wider public in Scotland, is it more than just wishful thinking to say that Faith itself has not wavered, even though there were some among its ‘vessels’ who been weak in the past, failings that lie with humankind not God? Church troubles have not helped the new evangelisation, but still this is not the time for point scoring nor triumphalism. In fact, Christianity should be based on trust and forgiveness at all times. That needs work.

Since 2007 the Catholic Church in Scotland has had a comprehensive programme of safeguarding in place yet there is room for improvement, as pointed out in the McLellan report this week.

While safeguarding bishop, Bishop Toal of Motherwell, and Tina Campbell, the Church’s national safeguarding co-ordinator, have spoken well this week, and we have seen a penitent Church, the last word on the matter today must go to Archbishop Tartaglia on behalf of Scotland’s bishops.

“We apologise to those who have found the Church’s response slow, unsympathetic or uncaring and reach out to them as we take up the recommendations of the McLellan Commission… in a spirit of openness and transparency,” he said.