Catholic Bishops to Discuss Sex Abuse

By Melissa Matheson
Herald Sun
November 27, 2012

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/catholic-bishops-to-discuss-sex-abuse/story-fndo317g-1226524493709

THE "scourge on society" that is sexual abuse will be addressed by Catholic bishops from across Australia today.

Up to 42 bishops will meet at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. They will discuss how the Church deals with the royal commission into sexual abuse and are expected to appoint a national spokesperson for the duration of the commission.

It follows the public outrage over Cardinal George Pell's comments this month that the commission would sort "fact from fiction" and reveal which claims of sexual abuse were a "significant exaggeration".

Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart - favoured to be spokesperson - said bishops wanted to help with the terms of reference for the commission, which accepted submissions up until yesterday.

Digital Pass - $5 weekend papers

"My big concern is that this matter of sexual abuse is an awful scourge on society and we want to address it," Archbishop Hart said.

"We want children to be safe in our community, to promote lasting healing and identify things that haven't been done so well."