Catholics Support Royal Commission

By Barney Zwartz
Wa Today
November 26, 2012

www.watoday.com.au/national/catholics-support-royal-commission-20121125-2a1mr.html

CATHOLICS overwhelmingly support a royal commission on child sex abuse at nearly the same rate as other Australians, with 83 per cent approving the inquiry, according to a survey.

The survey shows that 88 per cent of Australians approve of the inquiry, 4 per cent oppose it and 8 per cent don't know. Among Catholics, 6 per cent oppose it and the same percentage don't know.

According to the survey, by Essential Media, 88 per cent of Anglicans support the inquiry, as do 93 per cent of Protestants, 86 per cent of people belonging to other religions and 91 per cent of those who profess no religion.

By political affiliation, 92 per cent of Labor voters, 87 per cent of Coalition voters and 95 per cent of Greens voters approve. The groups most likely to strongly approve were 65 and older (71 per cent), Greens voters (72 per cent), Protestants (68 per cent) and those on incomes under $1000 a week (70 per cent).

The most important outcomes people want from the inquiry are that abusers and those who protected them be brought to justice, along with preventing further child sexual abuse.

Compensation for victims was named among the most important outcomes by only 16 per cent of those surveyed. But 39 per cent nominated removing those in authority who allowed the abuse to occur, 60 per cent said prosecuting abusers, and 63 per cent preventing future abuse.