13. Given its thematic nature, this investigation considered whether there are common issues that apply to religious organisations and settings, and how these issues can be met and overcome. To do this, we examined a number of issues, including:
14. The process adopted by the Inquiry is set out in Annex 1 to this report. Core participant status was granted under Rule 5 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 to 24 institutions and other interested parties. The Inquiry held two preliminary hearings on 23 July 2019 and 14 January 2020. Substantive public hearings were held over 16 days on 16 March 2020, 11 to 22 May 2020 and 10 to 14 August 2020.[3]
15. In preparation for the final public hearing, the Inquiry obtained a significant volume of evidence, which included the evidence of 45 victims and survivors, 14 organisations that work with complainants, victims and survivors, 9 local authorities, and 10 organisations that are part of central government. We also received evidence from 20 religious organisations and settings, 18 umbrella bodies and representative organisations representing religious organisations and settings, 6 organisations that provide training and support to religious organisations and settings on their child protection practices and 3 interfaith organisations.