Canberran CEO of Church Council

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn
December 13, 2012

http://www.cg.catholic.org.au/news/view_article.cfm?id=616&loadref=16

Canberra man Mr Francis Sullivan has been appointed chief executive officer of the Truth, Justice and Healing Council, which will oversee the Church’s engagement with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Australia.

Former NSW Supreme Court judge and former Commissioner of NSW’s Independent Commission Against Corruption Mr Barry O’Keefe QC has been appointed chairman of the council.

The council will include representatives from the community to provide expertise, wisdom and guidance over the course of the royal commission. It will comprise men and women with professional and other expertise and will seek to have an effective on-going relationship with people who have been damaged by the sexual abuse scandal.

Mr Sullivan has held positions as secretary-general of the Australian Medical Association, chief executive of Catholic Health Australia, and consultant to the Pontifical Counsel for the Pastoral Care of Health Care workers at the Vatican. He is an adjunct professor at Australian Catholic University and was chairman of the university’s Canberra campus review panel.

“This is a crucial time for the Catholic Church,” Mr Sullivan said.

“We need to be open and transparent with the interests of victims and their families always our number one concern.

"It is our sincere hope that with honesty and compassion we may be able to provide justice and healing to victims and their families as well as restore the confidence of those who have become disaffected with the Church, its people and processes."