A monk sexually abused 54 children in a monastery.

It has emerged that a priest on Caldey Island in Wales raped 54 children. Following the scandal, a 73-page precautionary report was published. The monastery, which has been associated with sexual abuse of children, will now implement a "no touching" policy. Monks will not be allowed to take selfies with visitors.

NO PERMISSION FOR SELFIES

According to a report by NTV, priests on Caldey Island will not be allowed to provide religious or pastoral advice to visitors, even if asked, nor take selfies with them. Additionally, under the "no touching" policy, they will be required to report any accidental physical contact.

ABUSE IN PLAIN SIGHT

Recommendations are included in a 73-page report examining how Father Thaddeus Kotik was able to groom boys and girls "in plain sight," rape them, and commit sexual harassment on the island, which hosts a community of Cistercian monks. The report also investigates how four other men, accused or convicted of sexual offenses, were able to live on the island off the Pembrokeshire coast.

"NO LEGAL BINDING"

Kevin O'Connell, founder of the Caldey Island Survivors Campaign, told The Guardian that he believes the review has not gone far enough because the recommendations have no legal binding. O'Connell stated that survivors should play a significant role in protecting the people on the island, saying, "Only those who have survived sexual abuse can see the dangers that others cannot."

APOLOGY FROM THE ABBOT

The current abbot of Caldey, Father Jan Rossey, apologized for the abuse and cover-up revealed by The Guardian in 2017. Rossey stated, "I have read with deep sadness and regret the immense suffering of the children abused by Father Thaddeus Kotik and the closed culture of secrecy and cover-up that kept this hidden."

Rossey stated that it is clear that opportunities to stop the abuse of children were missed, saying, "It is especially heartbreaking to hear that children reached out to adults and no action was taken. Children and their families have been failed when they should have been supported and listened to. The abuse should have been reported to the legal authorities."

Father Rossey said, "On behalf of the monastic community, I sincerely apologize to all those who have been harmed and suffered due to the abuse by Thaddeus Kotik and the failure to protect children and families in the past."