Kirchenakte Documented events from judgments, reports and church documents
1970-2015 · 45 years · show in timeline

England and Wales, state inquiry (IICSA) into abuse in the Catholic Church 1970 to 2015

In 2020 the state Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) found that between 1970 and 2015 the Catholic Church in England and Wales received more than 900 complaints involving more than 3000 instances of child sexual abuse by over 900 people, among them priests, monks and volunteers; 133 prosecutions ended in a conviction. Abuse was "swept under the carpet", and perpetrators were moved and protected. The Holy See refused to provide the inquiry with a witness statement.

Period
1970-2015 (45 years)
Report published
10 November 2020
Country
United Kingdom
Institutions
Catholic Church in England and Wales
Archdiocese of Birmingham
Ampleforth Abbey
Downside Abbey
Ealing Abbey and St Benedict's School
Archdiocese of Westminster
Holy See
Category
Sexual abuse, Cover-up
Level of evidence
A Primary source · what does this mean?
Persons
James Robinson (priest of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, sentenced in 2010 to 21 years in prison for 21 sexual offences against four boys)
David Pearce (monk of Ealing Abbey (St Benedict's School), convicted in 2009)
Samuel Penney (priest of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, moved from parish to parish despite reports)
Vincent Nichols (Cardinal, Archbishop of Westminster; according to the report at times more concerned with the reputation of the Church)

What happened to the people

Who was affected? Victims and numbers

  1. Between 1970 and 2015 the Catholic Church in England and Wales received more than 900 complaints involving more than 3000 instances of child sexual abuse by more than 900 people connected with the Church, including priests, monks and volunteers. Since 2016 there have been more than 100 new reports every year. According to the report, the true scale is likely to have been much greater.
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6)
    „Between 1970 and 2015, the Roman Catholic Church received more than 900 complaints involving over 3,000 instances of child sexual abuse against more than 900 individuals connected to the Church, including priests, monks and volunteers.“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6). Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6)
    „Since 2016, there have been more than 100 reported allegations each year.“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6). Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6)
    „the true scale of sexual abuse of children is likely to have been much higher“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6). Original · Archive copy

How were they charged and sentenced?

  1. In the same period there were 177 prosecutions with 133 convictions. In 2010 Father James Robinson was sentenced to 21 years in prison for 21 sexual offences against four boys. Father David Pearce was convicted in 2009 for beating a seven- or eight-year-old boy on the bare buttocks and then sitting him naked on his lap.
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6)
    „In the same period, there were 177 prosecutions resulting in 133 convictions.“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6). Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. vi (PDF-S. 7)
    „In 2010 he was convicted of 21 sexual offences against four boys. When sentencing him to 21 years’ imprisonment“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. vi (PDF-S. 7). Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. vi (PDF-S. 7)
    „Father David Pearce, was convicted in 2009 of indecently assaulting a boy aged seven or eight by beating and caning him on his bare buttocks“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. vi (PDF-S. 7). Original · Archive copy

What happened to those affected?

  1. The acts included masturbation, oral sex, vaginal and anal rape, sometimes combined with sadistic beatings. One boy estimated that a senior priest abused him several hundred times between the ages of 11 and 15; afterwards he had to go to confession each time, and the priest made him understand that his sister's school place depended on his obedience.
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6)
    „The sexual offending involved acts of masturbation, oral sex, vaginal rape and anal rape. On occasions, it was accompanied by sadistic beatings driven by sexual gratification“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6). Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6)
    „a young boy estimated that he was abused several hundred times by a senior priest between the ages of 11 and 15 years. After each incident he was required to make confession“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6). Original · Archive copy
  2. Victims described lifelong consequences. One witness spoke of years of unbearable guilt, depression, nightmares, anxiety and post-traumatic stress; another harmed himself, his marriage almost broke down, and his trust in any authority was destroyed.
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6)
    „resulting in years of unbearable guilt, depression, nightmares, anxiety and PTSD symptoms“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6). Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6)
    „led to him self-harming“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6). Original · Archive copy

Witness accounts and records

Witness Mother of a victim of Father David Pearce (St Benedict's School)

His father and I live with the guilt of sending him to St Benedict’s, trusting a priest … and the guilt of not realising why the change in our son was not more evident to us.

Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich): The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. vi (PDF-S. 7). Original · Archive copy

Background

Why? Justification and motives (according to the sources)

  1. The inquiry found that the Church neglected the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of children in favour of its reputation. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, too, had at times preferred to protect the reputation of the Church in England and Wales and in Rome.
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6)
    „The Church’s neglect of the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of children and young people in favour of protecting its reputation“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6). Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 10)
    „at times preferring to protect the reputation of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales and in Rome“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 10). Original · Archive copy

Who received the assets, who profited?

  1. Civil claims against dioceses and religious orders led to compensation payments running into millions of pounds.
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6)
    „Civil claims against dioceses and religious institutes have resulted in millions of pounds being paid in compensation.“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. v (PDF-S. 6). Original · Archive copy

Response of the Church

  1. The abuse was "swept under the carpet". The Church failed victims while it actively protected alleged perpetrators and its reputation. Father Samuel Penney, a priest of the Archdiocese of Birmingham from 1967, was moved from parish to parish despite repeated reports; there was no internal investigation and no report to the authorities. Until the Nolan Report in 2001 the approach was marked by little accountability and sometimes active cover-up.
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. vi (PDF-S. 7)
    „Child sexual abuse was swept under the carpet.“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. vi (PDF-S. 7). Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. vi (PDF-S. 7)
    „a failure to support victims and survivors in stark contrast to the positive action taken to protect alleged perpetrators and the reputation of the Church“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. vi (PDF-S. 7). Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. vi (PDF-S. 7)
    „He was moved from parish to parish. There was no internal investigation and the statutory authorities were not informed.“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. vi (PDF-S. 7). Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. vi (PDF-S. 7)
    „with little accountability and sometimes active cover-up, until the Nolan report in 2001“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. vi (PDF-S. 7). Original · Archive copy
  2. As late as 2016 the Diocese of Westminster described a victim of abuse in internal correspondence as "manipulative" and "needy".
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. viii (PDF-S. 9)
    „the Diocese of Westminster described a victim of sexual abuse as “manipulative” and “needy” in internal correspondence amongst members of its safeguarding commission“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. viii (PDF-S. 9). Original · Archive copy
  3. The Holy See and the Apostolic Nuncio invoked their diplomatic status, provided hardly any information and after months declined to give a witness statement. The inquiry wrote that this lack of cooperation "passes understanding".
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 10)
    „After several months of correspondence, the Holy See belatedly confirmed it would not provide a witness statement.“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 10). Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich), Executive Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 10)
    „Their lack of cooperation passes understanding.“
    The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), Executive Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 10). Original · Archive copy

See also

Original documents to read

  1. Government report
    Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Vereinigtes Königreich): The Roman Catholic Church: Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report (November 2020, korrigierte Fassung vom 4. Dezember 2020), 4 December 2020. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 15 Oct 2026)
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