Bishop Reveals Make up of Advisory Panel on Child Abuse Response

ABC News
August 4, 2014

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-05/bishop-reveals-make-up-of-advisory-panel-on-child-abuse-response/5648848

A retired Appeals Court judge and prominent Anglican will chair an independent panel set up to advise the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic diocese on its response to a child abuse inquiry.

The Special Commission of Inquiry into child sexual abuse in the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese was scathing of the Catholic Church's handling of paedophile priests.

Commissioner Margaret Cunneen described evidence given by two senior Hunter priests Monsignor Allan Hart and Father William Burston as unimpressive.

Bishop Bill Wright stood both men down from advisory roles and said he would set up an Independent Advisory Panel to help him decide whether further action was necessary.

He has today announced retired judge Kenneth Handley QC will chair the panel.

It will also include the University of Newcastle's Emeritus Professor in theology and ethics, Terry Lovat, the Very Rev Chris de Souza Vicar General of the Parramatta Diocese, and senior Catholic Schools educator Patricia Crennan.

One of the panel members is an adult survivor of child sexual abuse by a Catholic priest.

It will have three confidential members - a serving police officer, a solicitor and a retired teacher.

The Bishop says two panel members are actively engaged in the diocese, but none are parishioners of Fr Burston or Mons Hart.

The panel has already held its first meeting and is now taking submissions until August 19.

The Bishop says he expects to have the panel's view on what action to take by October and intends to publish the advice on the diocese's website.