Inquiry to hold public hearings into the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse is holding five days of public hearings examining the nature and extent of child sexual abuse by individuals associated with the Archdiocese of Birmingham, part of the Roman Catholic Church investigation.
The hearing dates will take place from Monday 12 November until Friday 16 November at the Inquiry’s hearing centre, 18 Pocock Street, London SE1 0BW.
Amongst other topics and issues, the public hearing will examine the institutional responses to disclosures of allegations of sexual abuse:
– The nature and extent of any failures of the Catholic Church, the Archdiocese, law enforcement agencies, prosecuting authorities, and/or other public authorities or statutory agencies to protect children from such abuse;
– The adequacy of the response of the Catholic Church, including through the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham, and the response of any other relevant institutions to allegations of child sexual abuse by individuals associated with the Archdiocese;
– The extent to which the Catholic Church, including through the Archdiocese, sought to investigate, learn lessons, implement changes and provide support and reparations to victims and survivors, in response to:
a) allegations of child sexual abuse by individuals associated with the Archdiocese;
b) criminal investigations and prosecutions, civil litigation and other complaints relating to child sexual abuse by individuals associated with the Diocese;
c) investigations, reviews or inquiries into child sexual abuse within the Archdiocese;
d) disciplinary measures taken against clergy; and/or
e) other internal or external reviews or guidance.
