The Vatican's representative at the United Nations has shocked listeners by suggesting that there could be more child abuse within Protestant and Jewish communities than in the Roman Catholic Church.

The Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service, an unofficial body that works with churches across the denominations, has published new guidance and urged Christian communities to "raise the bar" in their protection work.

Pope Benedict XVI has met privately with a delegation of Canadian native people to express his sorrow for the abuse suffered by indigenous children in Canadian residential schools. The meeting took place at the end of last week.

The Church in Wales has launched a major review into past allegations of child abuse in a bid to protect the young people in its midst into the future, and ensure appropriate action.

The world is still “largely silent and unresponsive” to the needs of boys as both victims and survivors of sexual abuse, according to humanitarian agency, World Vision.

A British charity has said that children in post-conflict areas are being sexually abused by peacekeepers and aid workers. The abuse involves children as young as six.

Following renewed criticism of its past practice, the Church of England has confirmed "the broad principles for a protocol for the systematic review of past child protection cases", following on from the Archbishop of Canterbury's announcement earlier in 2007.

Anglican Bishop of Bath and Wells Peter Price has made an apology for the church's failure to implement its own guidelines over convicted child sex offender the Rev David Smith. More action and vigilance is needed, say critics.