AUSTRALIA
Catholic Leader
April 11, 2017
By Mark Bowling
AN official leading the Church response to child sex abuse has told priests in Brisbane, “we created the abuse”, now it is time for parish priests to listen to their communities, including people who have been abused and are angry with the Church.
“We created the abuse. That is the harsh reality,” chief executive of the Church’s Truth, Justice and Healing Council Francis Sullivan said, addressing about 180 priests from the Archdiocese of Brisbane attending an annual convocation.
“Our culture grew the abusers and our culture protected the abusers and our culture for so long denied the victims.
“We didn’t listen. We didn’t believe.”
Mr Sullivan, through the TJHC, has led the Church’s response to the four-year child sex abuse royal commission.
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