Catholic Church Form Council to Work with Child Sex Abuse Inquiry

Herald Sun
November 30, 2012

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/catholic-church-form-council-to-work-with-child-sex-abuse-inquiry/story-fndo3ewo-1226527363157

CATHOLIC bishops will set up a new council to co-operate with the royal commission into child sex abuse.

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference said in a statement released today that the Church welcomed the royal commission as an opportunity for those who have suffered to obtain a compassionate hearing, justice and further healing.

"It is also an opportunity for the Church's processes to be scrutinised with greater objectivity. This will allow further refinements that seek justice and pastoral care," the statement said.

"However imperfectly, this work has been going on in the Catholic Church for the last two decades. It will continue."

"Once again, we renew our heartfelt apology to those whose lives have been so grievously harmed by the evil perpetrated upon them by some priests, religious and church personnel."

A supervisory group of representatives from the bishops' conference and Catholic Religious Australia has been set up to work with the royal commission.

The group will then establish and oversee a new council for the commission comprising 10 people, including bishops, religious and lay people served by an executive officer.

"Our hope is that, in its search for truth, the Royal Commission will present recommendations ensuring the best possible standards of child protection in our country," the bishops said.

They said they hoped the commission would present recommendations ensuring the best possible standards of child protection in the country.

"Painful and difficult as this might be for the Church, it is nothing compared to the hurt of those who have suffered sex abuse, particularly by clergy and religious."

Today's statement comes after Cardinal George Pell was criticised for comments made during his initial response to the creation of the royal commission.