Visiting Bishop Talks Atonement

By Cydonee Mardon
Illawarra Mercury
May 18, 2013

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/1509241/visiting-bishop-talks-atonement/?cs=300

The man co-ordinating the Catholic Church's response to the royal commission into child sex abuse visited Wollongong this week.

Francis Sullivan, chief executive of The Truth, Justice and Healing Council, met Bishop Peter Ingham, clergy, religious school principals, and employees of the Catholic Education Office, CatholicCare and Office of the Bishop.

Mr Sullivan walked through the process of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and "gave an understanding of the public and private hearings".

"This is our opportunity not to let down people who have been damaged by the Church," Mr Sullivan said.

Bishop Ingham again apologised to anyone in the diocese "who has been harmed".

He said the diocese was fully co-operating with the royal commission and "seeks to be truly open to the wisdom that it will offer to ensure greater protection for children, now and into the future".

"We recognise the need for any person who has been sexually abused as a child by a clergy, religious or employee of the Catholic Church to be given the opportunity for their experience to be heard," he said.

"All personnel working for the Church in the Diocese of Wollongong have been given cards with details to assist people to make contact with the royal commission or the police assistance line."

This week the Truth, Justice and Healing Council launched its website: tjhcouncil.org.au to provide information on how the council is engaging with the royal commission.

It also gives information from the commission itself, support services for victims and survivors, coverage from the secular and Catholic media and information from the Catholic community, including church leaders and critics.

Bishop Ingham said church leaders hoped the site would help engage the Catholic and wider Australian community "as we initiate research into best proactive procedure, policies and structures to protect children in the future and promote lasting healing for survivors".

"The site will also have full social media capacity, including a regular blog," he said.