Tag Archives: Sexual abuse

Royal commission will be healing for Church

By Bishop Bill Wright

This blog was published in CathBlog on 21 November, 2012

It is a week since Prime Minister Gillard announced the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse, and some people have seen it as the worst week the Catholic Church in Australia has ever had.

So much of the talk has been about the Church’s slow and inadequate response to allegations of abuse over a long period. In all honesty, though, I’ve been feeling quite positive and relieved ever since the announcement.

Here is the occasion when the nation as a whole can come to grips with one of its greatest issues. It is the beginning of a most important, purifying process. Continue reading

Royal commission

The Catholic Church welcomes the royal commission into child sex abuse. Picture: Bill Hearne Source: The Daily Telegraph

By + Cardinal George Pell
Archbishop of Sydney
18 November 2012

The following is the text of Cardinal George Pell’s Sunday Telegraph Column.

Last Monday the Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced a Royal Commission on the sexual abuse of children in institutions across Australia.

Naturally the victims were delighted that their struggle for justice was heard.  Many have high expectations and every decent person should work to see that all possible progress is made.

Along with the Australian Catholic bishops I welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement. The Royal Commission will provide an opportunity to clear the air.

Unfortunately the Catholic Church has been unable to reassure everyone that it is serious about dealing with sexual abuse and responding appropriately.  This is despite the fact that in 1997 the NSW Wood Royal Commission found the Catholic response “a model for other Churches and religious organizations to follow”. Continue reading