AUSTRALIA
Lawyers Weekly
The abuse and alleged cover-up of abuse by some clergy in the Roman Catholic Church warrants a transparent, national inquiry, not just another internal inquiry, writes Dr Andrew Morrison.
The appointment by the Roman Catholic Church of Tony Whitlam QC, retired Federal Court judge, to head an inquiry into its handling of the Father F affair does not make the inquiry adequate or acceptable.
Tony Whitlam QC is both honourable and able, and will no doubt do his best; however, the problems he faces are formidable.
Cardinal Pell has pointed out on a number of occasions that the authority of a bishop does not extend beyond his diocese. The inquiry is only by the Bishops of Armidale and Parramatta. They do not have the power to compel the attendance of clergy (or other persons) from outside their own diocese, and cannot even compel answers from clergy within their own diocese. They do not have power to require the production of documents from outside the diocese. It is noteworthy that, to date, St Mary’s Cathedral has declined to produce the records of the 1992 meeting (between Father F and Fathers Brian Lucas, Wayne Peters and John Usher).
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