Former Head of Catholic Church's Professional Standards Office Continues Evidence

ABC News
July 29, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-30/former-head-of-catholic-church27s-professional-standards-office/4851984

The former head of the Catholic Church's Professional Standards Office has told an inquiry into Hunter Valley sexual abuse people are encouraged to take allegations against clergy to police.

John Davoren is a former priest and social worker.

In the 1990s he was in charge of the church's Professional Standards Office in NSW, which in 1996 developed the policy document 'Towards Healing' in response to its poor handling of sexual abuse complaints.

Mr Davoren will this morning continue giving evidence at the inquiry which is investigating claims the church covered up abuse by two priests.

Late yesterday he told the commission people who came forward with sexual abuse allegations against a priest were "encouraged to go to police".

When counsel assisting asked him whether it was appropriate for a religious nun to provide counselling to a victim, he conceded it was "a mistake in hindsight".

Catholic school principal William Callinan will also give evidence today.

The commission's already heard Mr Callinan dispute claims he was warned by the former bishop Michael Malone to keep paedophile priest James Fletcher away from parish schools.