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	Church Overhauls Sex Abuse Process The Age February 16, 2011 http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/church-overhauls-sex-abuse-process-20110215-1av4t.html MELBOURNE'S Catholic Archdiocese has finally overhauled its sexual abuse inquiry process, more than a year after serious deficiencies were first exposed. The reforms will require the church's private sex abuse investigator, Peter O'Callaghan, QC, to seek permission from police before he notifies priests suspected of abuse that they are the subject of a covert police inquiry. The changes will also increase communication between senior police and the church in an effort to ensure that all abuse cases are handled appropriately. Advertisement: Story continues below The overhaul of the inquiry process is in response to revelations in The Age in 2009 concerning two cases in which Mr O'Callaghan had in effect revealed to two priests - without the approval or support of police - that they were the subject of covert police investigations. One of the priests was later convicted of sexual assault and the other is facing charges. The tipoffs occurred due to a flaw in Mr O'Callaghan's inquiry process that arose when a police investigation started after Mr O'Callaghan's private inquiry had already begun. In a move that angered detectives, Mr O'Callaghan informed the two suspect priests that they were of interest to police and that he would be stalling his inquiry until the police probe was over. Mr O'Callaghan's conduct in the cases had the effect of tipping off the priests about the covert police interest. In a media statement yesterday, Archbishop Denis Hart said that Mr O'Callaghan would "not inform the alleged offender" that they were under police investigation "for at least four weeks, or such further period as is agreed with the police". But the archbishop also defended Mr O'Callaghan's previous decision to tell the two priests that they were under police investigation. Archbishop Hart said this had been done in good faith by Mr O'Callaghan to afford both the alleged victim and alleged perpetrator "natural justice". Archbishop Hart also stressed that it had occurred on only two occasions. As part of the reforms, the church will attend formal and regular meetings with senior police. Victim groups and lawyers have previously raised concerns that sexual assault claims that should have been investigated by detectives were instead confined to the church's internal inquiry. Archbishop Hart said the reforms enhanced the way in which Mr O'Callaghan "informs and encourages complainants to take their complaints to the police". "It has been agreed with the police that [Mr O'Callaghan] … and my representatives will meet regularly with the Head of the sexual crime squad of Victoria Police to discuss matters of mutual interest and concern," Archbishop Hart said. Complaints within the Melbourne Archdiocese are dealt with under the church's "Melbourne Response".
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