Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Monks cede control of Ealing school

The archdiocese of Westminster will take over responsibility for ensuring the "Catholicity" of St Benedict's School in west London from the monks of Ealing Abbey, it has been revealed.

A report by the Apostolic Visitation into child safeguarding procedures at the abbey, seen by The Tablet this week, says the archdiocese will now become involved in maintaining "the Catholic nature of the school, since the [Benedictine monks] will no longer have the power to ensure this".

Following recommendations made by Lord Carlile last year in his report into 21 allegations of child sex abuse at the school, it was removed from the abbey's control.

It is understood that the archdiocese will work with the new board of trustees which took over governance of the school from the Benedictines last month.