Windsor Calls for Royal Commission into Church Abuse

SBS
November 9, 2012

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1709837/Abuse-royal-commission-not-needed-Pell

The Federal Independent Minister, Tony Windsor, is calling for a royal commission into child sex abuse in the Catholic church.

ndependent MP Tony Windsor is calling for a royal commission into child sex abuse in the Catholic church.

Independent MP Tony Windsor is calling for a royal commission into child sex abuse in the Catholic church.

Mr Windsor joined the call following New South Wales Premier Barry O'Farrell's announcement of a special commission of inquiry to look into allegations by a detective that its investigations were hindered by interference by the Catholic church.

The minister told the ABC, the fact that a respected police officer raised the issue, shows a royal commission is needed.

"If it's a controlled political inquiry, well you just get the same old answer, and no one does anything," he said.

Mr Windsor says he will discuss the issue with the Prime Minister.

Independent senator Nick Xenophon says allegations of child sex abuse and systemic covers-up inside the Catholic Church warrant a national royal commission.

Senator Xenophon says the days when we can allow the Catholic Church to be its own investigator are well and truly over.

A senior police detective in New South Wales who claims evidence of paedophilia has been destroyed by Catholic priests has called for a royal commission.

As well, a former NSW priest and police chaplain has said abuse is widely covered up in the church.

Meanwhile, Australia's most senior Catholic, Cardinal George Pell, is reportedly deeply ashamed at child sex abuse perpetrated by members of the church but doesn't believe a royal commission is warranted.

The Archbishop of Sydney accepts that children were abused by priests and that the crimes were covered up by other clergy but believes the Catholic church is no worse than other organisations, News Limited reports.

"It wasn't just the Catholic church that hoped (an abusive priest) would amend their conduct and give them a home elsewhere," he told the Weekend Australian.

"Back in those days, they were entitled to think of pedophilia as simply a sin that you would repent of. They didn't realise that in the worst cases it was an addiction, a raging addiction."

The church had rid itself of "a great deal of moral cancer" after abuse claims came to light, he said.

His comments came as NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell announced a special commission to investigate allegations of child sex abuse by Catholic church clergy in the Hunter region.

The commission will be run by prosecutor Margaret Cunneen, SC, and will examine allegations made by a senior serving police officer of child sex abuse at the hands of Catholic priests in the Newcastle area.

It will also look into alleged cover-ups by members of the church and the police force.

The special commission has been criticised as too limited by NSW opposition parties and by Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox, the police officer whose public calls for a royal commission prompted the inquiry.

A separate parliamentary inquiry into clergy child abuse allegations is under way in Victoria.