Children are the most precious gift we are given.

Jesus had a special place for them, welcoming children to him regardless of their background or behaviour.

As families and as a society we have a profound responsibility to protect children from harm and to enable them to flourish.

The abuse and exploitation of children is therefore especially outrageous.

We have learned to our great shame and scandal that over the years the Church has not only contained those who have abused children, but it has also protected the abusers.

It is good that the truth has come out, lessons learned and the culture changed.

This week, we have all been shocked at the stories of the violent sexual exploitation of very vulnerable young people in the town of Rotherham.

We have heard, too, of how the authorities knew much of this and yet chose to ignore and downplay it.

Victims who had the courage to come forward were not listened to or believed. What is particularly scandalous is that so many of these were ‘looked after children’ – children for whom society had taken direct responsibility.

Yet, rather than being especially well protected, they were seen as out of control children who brought problems on themselves. What happened to them simply did not seem to matter.

It is sobering to remember that the incidents in Rotherham are far from unique, and that vulnerable children are exploited in our towns and cities even today. Knowing the truth can be painful but it is the first step in changing things for the better.

As a society we must stand up resolutely to the evil of the sexual abuse of children. We must make every effort to protect victims (and particularly those with troubled backgrounds) and to bring perpetrators to justice. As individuals we can pray.

We can support organisations like The Children’s Society which works with some of the most vulnerable children such as those living on the streets. And we can help develop a culture in which every child truly matters and every young person is able to flourish free from abuse and exploitation.

Toby Webber - Chaplain to the Bishop of Blackburn