Plan for church watchdog

An independent abuse watchdog is to be set up by the Catholic Church in Scotland to deal with complaints against members of the clergy.

The move to establish a “Safeguarding Agency” follows decades of clerical sex scandals, where the Church has been accused of failing to deal with rogue priests who have preyed on members of their community.

The Church says the Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency will operate independently to produce consistency, transparency and accountability.

Bishop Hugh Gilbert, Bishop of Aberdeen, said: “The SCSSA will operate entirely independently of the Church and will have its own staff and board of management, who will work in close collaboration with dioceses and religious communities.

“It will also develop a process that will provide an independent review of complaints about safeguarding practice and crucially, establish a forum in which those who have experienced abuse can contribute.”