The Archbishop of Sydney has said the hammering Cardinal George Pell is taking over the handling of abuse cases is starting to take its toll. Archbishop Anthony Fisher told Crux that the cardinal has responded to most of these most recent charges several times before. “People think he’s indestructible, but I’ve sensed seeing him this Read more
A Vatican tribunal to judge bishops in connection with child abuse wouldn’t investigate any Australian bishops until a royal commission has concluded. Last week, the Vatican announced a new tribunal within the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith “to judge bishops with regard to crimes of the abuse of office when connected to the Read more
Cardinal George Pell has said he is willing to travel to Ballarat to give evidence at a royal commission that is hearing horrendous accounts of child abuse. Abuse victims have called on Cardinal Pell to give evidence to the inquiry to answer questions about the Church’s response to the abuse. “So far I have not Read more
Cardinal George Pell has strongly denied being involved in an alleged sex abuse cover-up and trying to bribe a victim to be quiet. In a statement, Cardinal Pell renewed his rejection of claims that he helped move paedophile Fr Gerald Ridsdale between parishes and tried to pay one of the victims to remain quiet. He Read more
A Catholic Church spokesman is surprised at the Australian government’s rejection of a proposed national compensation scheme for child sex abuse victims. The Church’s Truth, Justice and Healing Council chief, Francis Sullivan, said this to a royal commission hearing last week. Mr Sullivan said the Church supported a national scheme administered by the federal government Read more
Australia’s royal commission looking at institutional responses to child sex abuse has backed the way sacked Toowoomba Bishop William Morris handled a case. Fr Frank Brennan, SJ, writing for the ABC, noted how this is in stark contrast to how the commission lambasted Cardinal George Pell’s handling of the case of abuse victim John Ellis. This Read more
Reports released by an Australian royal commission have condemned the way the Catholic Church acted towards sexual abuse victims in several cases. On February 11, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse released reports on the John Ellis case and on the Church’s Towards Healing protocol. The four cases dealt with in Read more
The new Archbishop of Sydney has urged disillusioned Catholic to return and “help us to be a better Church”. At his installation Mass last week, Archbishop Anthony Fisher vowed to improve the Church’s record on safeguarding children. He said the Church would emerge from a period of intense public scrutiny about clerical child abuse “humbler, Read more
The Australian government and other bodies should pay towards compensation for victims abused as children in institutions, a royal commission head says. Justice Peter McClellan said some Australian institutions where children were abused either have no money or no longer exist. He chairs the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Justice McClellan Read more
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has been granted its sought two-year extension. It will run for five years. That is appropriate. I predicted on the night Julia Gillard announced the commission that it would take five years to do its work. I am still worried about this extended federal royal Read more