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8 March 2013 Last updated at 17:25 Share this pageEmailPrint
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Catholic Church in Scotland 'knew of 20 child sex abuse allegations'
By James Cook
Scotland Correspondent, BBC News
The BBC has spoken to an alleged victim of abuse in ScotlandContinue reading the main story
Related Stories
Catholic Church response
'I struggle every day'
The BBC has seen evidence that bishops in the Catholic Church in Scotland knew of 20 allegations of child sex abuse by priests between 1985 and 1995.
Another alleged victim of abuse says his life has been ruined.
An academic who compiled a report for the Church on how to deal with abuse says not enough was done.
The Catholic Church in Scotland insists its child protection procedures have improved dramatically since the 1990s and allegations of abuse now are rare.
The Roman Catholic Church is no stranger to scandal, but until now Scotland has not been engulfed by allegations of abuse.
That may be changing.
Priest removed
The BBC has also spoken to another alleged victim who is not among the 20 new allegations.
Chris claims he was abused by a priest in the 90s, from the age of nine or 10 until he was into his early teens.
"He would get me to perform sexual acts on him and he would perform sexual acts on me," he said.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
I was very concerned about their unwillingness to actually expose individual priests who were leading double livesâ€
Alan Draper
"Away from the family home, in the family home, in the church, in their vehicle.
"There's many people out there who have been abused."
Chris' story didn't come to light until last year. Police took him seriously, but the case never came to court.
The Church says it removed the priest involved from his parish as soon as the allegations were made and the police were informed.
It insisted the case had been "handled in complete accordance with the guidelines".
A spokesman added: "The Church sent its file to the Vatican in July last year and now awaits a decision."
But how common were such claims?
In the mid-1990s, an academic was appointed to advise the Church on sexual abuse and how to respond to it.
Alan Draper asked Scotland's eight bishops how much they knew.
The BBC has seen the letters which they sent in reply to Mr Draper, which refer to 20 allegations of child abuse by priests.
Lawyer contacted
Mr Draper says he wanted independent experts to investigate further, but the bishops disagreed.
He said: "I was very concerned about their unwillingness to actually expose individual priests who were leading double lives.
"They were very reluctant to do that, and I felt that was totally inappropriate. It's not what your sexuality is, it's how you're managing your sexuality.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
All allegations are notified to the policeâ€
Catholic Church in Scotland
"Certainly there's strong evidence to say some of the priests were out of control sexually, whether they be homosexual or heterosexual. The file should be made open to an independent group, preferably chaired by a judge."
The Church said Mr Draper was involved "at an early stage in the development of policies and procedures but was replaced when others with greater competence were engaged".
The letters seen by the BBC suggest some priests were reported to police and removed from parishes, while others were not.
Now more alleged victims are coming forward after Cardinal Keith O'Brien admitted sexual misconduct after resigning as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh following allegations by other priests.
He does not face any criminal allegations, or any claims of child abuse.
Lawyer Cameron Fyfe said: "I'm acting for six clients who allege abuse, two of whom have come forward just in the last few weeks since the Keith O'Brien scandal.
"Some of them go back to the early 1980s, but two of them have been within the last 10 years."
National guidelines
He said two of his clients claimed to have been raped while they were children, with the attacks taking place in the late-1980s and mid-1990s.
Mr Fyfe said that under Scots law, cases should be brought within three years.
But he said that was "totally unrealistic because victims of sexual abuse often lock away the memories of the abuse and can't come to terms with it".
In a statement, the Catholic Church in Scotland said it had applied nationally agreed guidelines on abuse since 1999.
It said: "All allegations are notified to the police. The Church recognises that the statutory authorities are the responsible bodies for investigation.
"All necessary steps are taken to remove anyone in danger from situations of risk."
It added that a "national co-ordinator" for child protection was a key part of its "safeguarding structures."
1.8K
ShareFacebookTwitter
Catholic Church in Scotland 'knew of 20 child sex abuse allegations'
By James Cook
Scotland Correspondent, BBC News
The BBC has spoken to an alleged victim of abuse in ScotlandContinue reading the main story
Related Stories
Catholic Church response
'I struggle every day'
The BBC has seen evidence that bishops in the Catholic Church in Scotland knew of 20 allegations of child sex abuse by priests between 1985 and 1995.
Another alleged victim of abuse says his life has been ruined.
An academic who compiled a report for the Church on how to deal with abuse says not enough was done.
The Catholic Church in Scotland insists its child protection procedures have improved dramatically since the 1990s and allegations of abuse now are rare.
The Roman Catholic Church is no stranger to scandal, but until now Scotland has not been engulfed by allegations of abuse.
That may be changing.
Priest removed
The BBC has also spoken to another alleged victim who is not among the 20 new allegations.
Chris claims he was abused by a priest in the 90s, from the age of nine or 10 until he was into his early teens.
"He would get me to perform sexual acts on him and he would perform sexual acts on me," he said.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
I was very concerned about their unwillingness to actually expose individual priests who were leading double livesâ€
Alan Draper
"Away from the family home, in the family home, in the church, in their vehicle.
"There's many people out there who have been abused."
Chris' story didn't come to light until last year. Police took him seriously, but the case never came to court.
The Church says it removed the priest involved from his parish as soon as the allegations were made and the police were informed.
It insisted the case had been "handled in complete accordance with the guidelines".
A spokesman added: "The Church sent its file to the Vatican in July last year and now awaits a decision."
But how common were such claims?
In the mid-1990s, an academic was appointed to advise the Church on sexual abuse and how to respond to it.
Alan Draper asked Scotland's eight bishops how much they knew.
The BBC has seen the letters which they sent in reply to Mr Draper, which refer to 20 allegations of child abuse by priests.
Lawyer contacted
Mr Draper says he wanted independent experts to investigate further, but the bishops disagreed.
He said: "I was very concerned about their unwillingness to actually expose individual priests who were leading double lives.
"They were very reluctant to do that, and I felt that was totally inappropriate. It's not what your sexuality is, it's how you're managing your sexuality.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
All allegations are notified to the policeâ€
Catholic Church in Scotland
"Certainly there's strong evidence to say some of the priests were out of control sexually, whether they be homosexual or heterosexual. The file should be made open to an independent group, preferably chaired by a judge."
The Church said Mr Draper was involved "at an early stage in the development of policies and procedures but was replaced when others with greater competence were engaged".
The letters seen by the BBC suggest some priests were reported to police and removed from parishes, while others were not.
Now more alleged victims are coming forward after Cardinal Keith O'Brien admitted sexual misconduct after resigning as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh following allegations by other priests.
He does not face any criminal allegations, or any claims of child abuse.
Lawyer Cameron Fyfe said: "I'm acting for six clients who allege abuse, two of whom have come forward just in the last few weeks since the Keith O'Brien scandal.
"Some of them go back to the early 1980s, but two of them have been within the last 10 years."
National guidelines
He said two of his clients claimed to have been raped while they were children, with the attacks taking place in the late-1980s and mid-1990s.
Mr Fyfe said that under Scots law, cases should be brought within three years.
But he said that was "totally unrealistic because victims of sexual abuse often lock away the memories of the abuse and can't come to terms with it".
In a statement, the Catholic Church in Scotland said it had applied nationally agreed guidelines on abuse since 1999.
It said: "All allegations are notified to the police. The Church recognises that the statutory authorities are the responsible bodies for investigation.
"All necessary steps are taken to remove anyone in danger from situations of risk."
It added that a "national co-ordinator" for child protection was a key part of its "safeguarding structures."
T
thecraw
Guest
That's what annoys me most is the Church's reluctance to take the allegations seriously and act on them. They think that by sending a hushed up report to the Vatican they have complied and are bombproof. Very sickening allegations.
If the pot lid about to bubble off????
If the pot lid about to bubble off????
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
The fact that the church think that removing a child molesting priest from his current job is sufficient to deal with the problem is appalling. They have taken the same position on this for decades. These people need to be prosecuted, along with the guys higher up who wielded the broom, and the guys who thought up the strategy. What the church needs is a massive clear out. Ideally into prisons.
I have previously read that the out going pope used to be responsible for this sort of cover up, oops, I mean investigation.
I have previously read that the out going pope used to be responsible for this sort of cover up, oops, I mean investigation.
The outgoing Pope, whilst still a Cardinal, went against Pope John Paul II's wishes and those of other senior Cardinals and investigated a number of priests. He was also instrumental in taking the investigations away from the local Diocise, where many of them had been swept under the carpet.
As Pope he issued an edict that all cases of sexual abuse should be handled by the local govt authorities once the Vatican had proven the case - like many businesses investigate wrongdoings before handing them to the authorities. Was he right in doing that? No, it would have been better if professionals had handled the cases...
But is he the really the evil man that many want to portray him? Misguided yes, evil no. But as for the actions of a number of senior church officials... a few hangings wouldn't be out of place.
T
thecraw
Guest
He is still guilty as sin of allowing a lot of atrocities to be swept under the carpet or covered up.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/15/pope-benedict-inaction-child-abuse
Disgusting.
Kellfire
Blackballed
Catholic Church. Evil.
Enough said.
Enough said.
The more I read about this the more I worry, I think its more of a mafia than a church and they think they can do what ever they want and cannot be held responsible for their actions.
The old saying is there is no smoke without fire, well the chimney is under construction and the smoke is about to puff so let's hope the fire gets put out and those responsible for all these sordid actions that have been going on/allowed even in this day and age are punished and that the RC church can now be cleaned out and rid of all these criminals that have been hiding for years.
Time to come clean and move forward.
chris661
Money List Winner
Problem is I don't know if they can or anyone in the hierarchy has the stomach to deal with what would inevitably come out in the wash, but just paying lip service or brushing it under the carpet is not acceptable.
Sad thing is I think you are right, what about the people of the church do they not get a say on how the church is run or do they just follow. Maybe it's time for the church going people to stand up and ask for answers.
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
Catholic Church. Evil.
Enough said.
What's your views on Islam then?
chris661
Money List Winner
Ultimately though it is a closed shop and if the hierarchy don't want to do it then it won't get done. Attitudes are changing amongst the catholic people though and eventually change will happen, probably quicker when the money starts to dry up. I saying that there are an awful lot of good people in the organisation but unfortunately it is the bad ones that are taking any good out of it.
T
thecraw
Guest
Its also strongly rumoured that the reason that Pope Benedict has elected to stay in the Vatican after his resignation is to ensure that he's not extradited to face charges else where as the Italians would never hand him over. Hiding behind religion.
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
Plenty of other rumours flying around too. We'll likely never know he truth.
Kellfire
Blackballed
Same.
All religions are evil; they rely on subservience by the ignorant which is disgusting.
stevie_r
Tour Winner
I do believe that there are good people in the church but why can't they make the difference, like all these organizations you need to stand up for what you believe in and until this happens then the corruption will alway win. Now is the time for the ordinary member of the faith to stand up and vent their anger at how things are being run and that it is now time for clarity.
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
The last government census has me recorded as a Jedi - we are not evil at all
All religions have their dark side.....
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
If you were ignorant, would you not just ignore religion then?
How would you listen to and assimilate the given information from the captains of religious dogma, if you were ignorant?
Flawed argument, I think.
