Church ditches its abuse inquisitors

By Dan Box
Australian
August 13, 2014

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/in-depth/church-ditches-its-abuse-inquisitors/story-fngburq5-1227022279110

CARDINAL George Pell will give evidence by video-link from the Vatican to a royal commission next week after the Catholic Church yesterday said it would abandon the process by which it investigates claims of child abuse committed by its priests.

Key among these is the Melbourne Response, introduced by Cardinal Pell in 1996, and which will be the focus of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse hearing, beginning on Monday.

The Melbourne Response, as well as the Towards Healing process operated elsewhere within the church, have dealt with hundreds of victims, many of whom have criticised a lack of independence during the handling of their case.

Cardinal Pell, who now is responsible for the Vatican’s finances, has previously defended both schemes, describing the Melbourne Response as “first and foremost about helping victims”.

The commission is expected to question him over three cases dealt with under the Melbourne Response. He has already given evidence about Towards Healing and the church’s use of civil litigation to respond to claims.

“The days of the Catholic Church investigating itself are over,” the head of the church’s ­national Truth, Justice and Healing Council, Francis Sullivan, said yesterday, after formally calling for an independent victims’ redress scheme to handle abuse claims. In a 47-page submission, the council called on the commission to recommend the federal government establish such a body, funded in part by the church, to investigate claims and determine the compensation victims receive.