Church Welcomes Scrutiny

By Thomas McIlroy
Canberra Times
April 4, 2013

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/church-welcomes-scrutiny-20130403-2h7gb.html

Monsignor John Woods has welcomed the Royal Commission into child sexual abuse in the Catholic church

The administrator of Canberra's Catholic archdiocese welcomed the opening hearings of the royal commission on child sexual abuse on Wednesday.

Speaking while on leave, Monsignor John Woods said he hoped the inquiry ''would be for the good of all Australians, especially our children''.

Monsignor Woods will serve as the administrator of the archdiocese until the appointment of a new archbishop. His predecessor, former archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn Mark Coleridge, was this week appointed to a newly created Catholic body dealing with the commission. The 13-member truth justice and healing council will oversee the engagement with the royal commission, assisted by lay staff.

Council chief executive Francis Sullivan said council members were selected for their expertise, including across sexual abuse, paedophilia, trauma, mental illness, suicide and public policy.

''The church and members of the [council] are determined that the truth be told and that the church assists victims and those damaged by abuse as children receive justice and to embark on a sustainable process of healing,'' he said.

''We accept that the royal commission may well reveal embarrassing and shameful episodes from our past, but it is necessary in order for the truth to heal and for the community to see that our engagement is genuine and sincere.''

Mr Sullivan said the council's first meeting was planned for mid-April.