The hearing is looking into the case of former teacher Gerry Byrnes, who sexually abused school girls in his classroom in 2007 and 2008.

After Byrnes was arrested in 2008, Bishop Morris sacked a principal and two education officers, who knew about the allegations against him in September 2007 but did not tell police.

Bishop Morris then admitted church responsibility, opening the way for financial settlements with the victims.

The bishop was removed from his diocese by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011 over what was said to be doctrinal and disciplinary matters and made bishop emeritus.

Counsel Assisting, Gail Furness asked the bishop if there was a culture of not believing sex abuse victims in the Catholic Church.

"Yes, and I think it may be, say, sometimes we've got to check out the story because you never know, they might be just making it up and we don't want to make a report on someone that's going to ruin the rest of their lives, I think that could possibly be part of it," Bishop Morris told the commission.

Ms Furness then asked him what he thought of the officials' dithering over allegations that Byrnes had touched girls inside their pants and shirts.

"It's stunning, I know. I can't get my head around it. Like I said to someone - well, we spoke about it recently. It's not rocket science. Touching is not rocket science," the bishop replied.

"Like the other day we saw a question put to witnesses concerning, say hands in the pants and the question came back saying, you know, 'Was it on the bottom of the pants?' and I'm thinking, 'Are we going down that track again?'. Like 'Why don't they get it?"'

The hearing continues.