Stage 3: February 2016

The Royal Commission will hold the third part of the public hearing regarding the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat commencing on 22 February 2016 at the Ballarat Magistrates Court.

• Read Witness List (PDF 217 KB)

• Read Witness List (DOC 226KB)

• Read Opening Address (PDF 333KB)

• Read Opening Address (DOC 248KB)

• Read Statement by the Chair regarding arrangements for Cardinal Pell's evidence (PDF 220KB)

• Read Statement by the Chair regarding arrangements for Cardinal Pell's evidence (DOC 363KB)

Cardinal George Pell will give evidence from 29 February 2016 by video link from Rome concerning Case Study 28: Catholic Church authorities in Ballarat and Case Study 35: Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. The Royal Commission will sit in Sydney and, in accordance with a request from Cardinal Pell, the hearing will commence at 08:00am AEDT.

• Attending the Hearing: Information for the public

• Read Sydney Opening Address (PDF 236KB)

• Read Sydney Opening Address (DOC 364KB)

Directions Hearing: 5 and 8 February 2016

The Royal Commission held a directions hearing  in Sydney on Friday 5 and Monday 8 February 2016.

The purpose of the directions hearing was to consider Cardinal George Pell’s capacity to attend the third part of the public hearing into Catholic Church authorities in Ballarat.

This was immediately followed by a directions hearing to consider Bishop Ronald Mulkearns’ capacity to attend the third part of the public hearing into Catholic Church authorities in Ballarat.

• Read Reasons for Decision with respect to Cardinal George Pell (PDF 113KB)

• Read Reasons for Decision with respect to Cardinal George Pell (DOC 16KB)

• Read Reasons for Decisions with respect to Bishop Ronald Mulkearns (PDF 232KB)

• Read Reasons for Decisions with respect to Bishop Ronald Mulkearns (DOC 25KB)
   

Stage 2: December 2015

The second stage of this public hearing was held at the County Court of Victoria from Monday 7 to Wednesday 16 December 2015.

• Read Witness list for December Hearing PDF, 304 kB

• Read Witness list for December Hearing DOC, 226 kB

• Read Opening Address December PDF, 437 kB

• Read Opening Address December DOC, 67 kB
   

Stage 1: May 2015

The first part of this public hearing was held at Ballarat Magistrates Court from Tuesday 19 to Friday 29 May 2015.

• Read Witness List for May Hearing (PDF 250 KB)

• Read Witness List for May Hearing (DOC 365 KB)

• Read Opening Address (PDF 467 KB)

• Read Opening Address (DOC 388 KB)

• Read Justice McClellan's Opening remarks (PDF 242 KB).

• Read Justice McClellan's Opening remarks (DOC 235 KB).
   

1. The response of the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat and other Catholic Church authorities in Ballarat to allegations of child sexual abuse against clergy or religious.
2. The response of the Congregation of the Christian Brothers in St Patrick’s Province, Australia, to allegations of child sexual abuse against Christian Brothers.
3. Any related matters.