Child Sexual Abuse Royal Commission: Peter Mcclellan Requests Vatican Documents on Priest Abuse Claims

Radio Australia
June 12, 2014

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2014-06-12/child-sexual-abuse-royal-commission-peter-mcclellan-requests-vatican-documents-on-priest-abuse-claim/1325924

Justice Peter McClellan has referred over 160 matters to the police for investigation. (Credit: AAP)

The head of the royal commission into child sexual abuse is seeking help from the Vatican with complaints about abuse involving priests.

Justice Peter McClellan took time out to address an international men's health symposium in Brisbane last night.

He told the gathering the royal commission had received stories of abuse from more than 1,700 people in private hearings.

Justice McClellan said the allegations involved more than 1,000 institutions and that faith-based institutions were a "significant portion" of the complaints.

He revealed he has written to the Vatican seeking copies of all documents held in Rome relating to complaints of abuse by members of religious orders.

"We have asked for copies of documents which reveal the nature and extent of communications between Catholic congregations in Australia and the Holy See," he said.

"From these documents we should be able to determine how church authorities in Australia, under the guidance or direction of the Vatican, have responded to individual allegations of abuse."

The commission has received some documents from the Vatican relating to its upcoming public inquiry of the Wollongong diocese.

But Justice McClellan said the Vatican had yet to respond to his request for documents relating to other sexual abuse complaints.

The inquiry has so far heard allegations of abuse at the Scouts, YMCA, three schools, two church dioceses and the Salvation Army.

Justice McClellan warned that the potential for abuse still existed at those institutions.

"All of these institutions continue to exist (and) the risk of abuse accordingly remains," he said.

Based on information the commission has collected, Justice McClellan said there were at least 30 other institutions which must be examined in public hearings.

Justice McClellan also said victims had come to trust the inquiry process and felt safe to tell their stories.

He said there were now requests for private hearings at the rate of 40 per week and more than 1,000 people are scheduled to attend future sessions.

Justice McClellan said he had referred more than 160 matters to the police for investigation.

The commission is due to provide an interim report to the Federal Government by June 30.