Bishop Backs Royal Commission into Abuse

Cowra Community News
November 9, 2012

http://cowracommunitynews.com/viewnews.php?newsid=2145&id=4

THE head of the Catholic Church in Newcastle and Maitland says he would welcome a royal commission into allegations of child sex abuse by clergy in the region.

Bishop of the Newcastle-Maitland Diocese, William Wright, today (Friday) backed calls by a New South Wales police investigator for a royal commission into claims church hierarchy is engaged in a continuing effort to cover up abuse.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox, who has investigated abuse by clergy around Newcastle for decades, has written an open letter to Premier Barry O’Farrell demanding a royal commission into the issue.

Yesyerday (Thursday), he slammed the State Government on national television for not launching a judicial inquiry.

Bishop Wright said he’d welcome a royal commission because “I personally think it would be good for us”.

“The hard facts on the table would be a lot better than the conspiracy theory or the generalised impression that has got around,” he’s told national media.

However, he says he doubts the cost of holding a royal commission would be worth it given changes to child protection laws.

“I think the government’s got a case that spending millions on a royal commission would not serve the public interest in child protection all that much,” says Bishop Wright.

He’s rejected suggestions that priests in the diocese are blocking investigations by NSW Police, saying any claims of abuse brought to his attention were forwarded to police.

He says he has been “annoyed by many things down the years” but insists the church has “come a long way in a fairly short time”.

He says he doesn’t know how many priests in the diocese have been referred to police.

Bishop Wright also says the church is not conducting its own investigation into allegations of abuse.

Media reports say there have been 400 victims of child sexual abuse in the Newcastle-Maitland Diocese.