St Mary's Father Casey Welcomes Inquest into Child Abuse

By Peter Foley
The Queensland Times
November 21, 2012

www.qt.com.au/news/catholic-leader-welcomes-inquiry/1629926/

KEEP THE FAITH: Father Peter Casey says the safety of children is paramount. Photo by Claudia Baxter

A LEADER of Ipswich's Catholic community has welcomed the announcement of a national royal commission into child abuse.

St Mary's Ipswich parish priest Father Peter Casey said the care and safety of children was all-important.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard last week announced the creation of the royal commission into institutional child sexual abuse.

Father Casey said Brisbane's Archbishop Mark Coleridge and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference had offered to co-operate with the commission.

"The royal commission into child abuse in various institutions, both Church and state, including the Catholic Church, may produce an outcome that will ensure the safety of all children from any form of abuse," Fr Casey said.

The care and safety of children was a paramount task for families and all others looking after them, he said.

"The royal commission will be expected to fulfil the needs of all interested parties," he said.

"I can only expect that the terms of reference will be sufficiently practical to provide the opportunities for all the institutions involved to address policies and practices to deal with this unacceptable behaviour."