IICSA Findings (Roman Catholic Church Investigation Report, November 2020)

IICSA Findings (Roman Catholic Church Investigation Report, November 2020)
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) examined the Catholic Church in England and Wales and found significant historical institutional failings:
Between 1970 and 2015, the Church received more than 900 complaints involving over 3,000 instances of child sexual abuse by more than 900 individuals (priests, monks, volunteers, etc.). The true scale was likely much higher due to under-reporting.
The Church often prioritised its reputation over the welfare of children. Allegations were sometimes "swept under the carpet," with failures to report promptly to police or statutory authorities.
Victims and survivors frequently experienced poor support, disbelief, or secondary harm from Church processes.
There was evidence of moving alleged perpetrators between parishes without adequate safeguards, and resistance to external oversight in some cases.
Leadership, including Cardinal Vincent Nichols (then President of the Bishops’ Conference), was criticised for lacking personal acknowledgment of responsibility and for focusing more on institutional reputation than on victims.
IICSA noted improvements since earlier reviews (e.g., the 2001 Nolan Report and 2007 Cumberlege Review), with 79 of 83 Nolan recommendations addressed in full or in part by dioceses. However, progress in religious institutes (orders) lagged, and some areas remained slow (e.g., full implementation of certain Cumberlege recommendations and the joint Safe Spaces support project).
A broader IICSA thematic report on religious organisations (2021) described "shocking failings" and "blatant hypocrisy" across faith settings, including the Catholic Church.