AUSTRALIA
ABC – Lateline
[with video]
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Broadcast: 12/07/2013
Reporter: Suzie Smith
The former Bishop of Maitland Newcastle diocese, Michael Malone, told the inquiry into sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, that he felt compelled to defend the Church in favour of reporting a paedophile priest.
Transcript
EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: The former Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle has told a NSW inquiry into alleged abuse by the clergy that he felt compelled by Church culture to play down the problem.
Bishop Michael Malone today said there’d been resistance from some priests to confront the issue.
Until 2011 Bishop Malone was head of the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese for 16 years.
It has been one of the worst centres of clergy sexual abuse against children with hundreds of victims and at least 14 priests either charged, convicted or under investigation.
Suzie Smith reports from Newcastle.
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