Top Catholic Priests Discuss Sexual Abuse Response

By Michael Vincent
ABC - Am
November 26, 2012

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2012/s3640523.htm

[with audio]

TONY EASTLEY: The 42 members of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference are meeting in Sydney to discuss the Church's response to the national Royal Commission into child sexual abuse.

Submissions for the royal commission's consultation period close today.

The head of the bishops conference and Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart says not only will they discuss the inquiry, they'll also be talking about the Church's own past responses to victims and allegations, including its Towards Healing doctrine.

And he says he wants a regime of mandatory reporting of abuse to police to be put in place.

Michael Vincent reports.

MICHAEL VINCENT: The most senior 42 men of the Catholic Church in Australia will today hear that the royal commission is a "wake up call".

DENIS HART: I think there has been a lot of attention to the Catholic Church, admittedly, but we've got to face that squarely and we do so and we are committed to doing so.

MICHAEL VINCENT: President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart:

DENIS HART: I welcome the Royal Commission because it will enable these matters to be faced by all of us, it will enable the victims to tell their story, and it will enable us as Church and community together to really do our best to put in place regimes for the future that will really care for our children and avoid these awful events of which we've heard more recently.

MICHAEL VINCENT: Mandatory reporting of child sex abuse allegations is on the agenda for the bishops and Church payments to victims will also be discussed.

DENIS HART: I certainly think that the compensation, voluntary compensation that we've made to some victims is something that we want to try and do.

MICHAEL VINCENT: Is it problematic given some cases haven't been referred to police?

DENIS HART: Obviously the matter of voluntary compensation is a gesture which shows how seriously the Church is wanting to face these matter.

Obviously I've said that we believe that there should be a mandatory reporting regime for priests just like there is for doctors and nurses and social workers, whereby if they become aware of abuse that should be reported to a statutory authority.

MICHAEL VINCENT: Do you consider that's been a major...

DENIS HART: Just let me finish.

MICHAEL VINCENT: Do you consider that's been a major failing though?

DENIS HART: Just let me finish. Just let me finish.

I've mentioned the reporting regime, which I think is important in the future. I believe also that there should be a regime where abuse is noted and the victim doesn't wish to go to the police, there should be a mechanism by which that report can be made. And we've said this in our submission to the Victorian inquiry.

MICHAEL VINCENT: Do you think the lack of a mandatory reporting regime has been a major failing of the Catholic Church to date?

DENIS HART: I don't believe so because we have tried to act with integrity and we've tried to respect particularly the requests of the victims. And it's a very difficult situation. We don't in any way condone the wrongdoing that's been done.

MICHAEL VINCENT: But if anyone else came to you with any other crime, as a citizen you'd be obliged to report it to police.

DENIS HART: We're certainly wanting to act according to the very best standards and that's why we've wanted to institute a mandatory reporting and a police reporting regime as I've explained.

MICHAEL VINCENT: The president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart speaking there to AM's Michael Vincent.