Archbishop Blames Cultural Changes for Number of Sex Offenders Within Church

ABC News
May 31, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-31/archbishop-blames-cultural-changes-for-number-of-sex-offenders-/4725960?section=vic

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart, says the cultural changes of the 1960s and 1970s were a major factor in the large number of child sex offenders within the church.

The Archbishop was speaking at a special diocesan leadership luncheon today as a follow-up to the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into institutionalised child abuse.

Citing research conducted in the United States, Archbishop Hart said a number of organisational, psychological and situational factors led to a high rate of offending amongst priests ordained prior to the 1970's.

"They were poorly trained in the human maturity, self understanding, and relationship skills that they needed when they encountered the social and cultural changes of the 1960's and 1970s, such as reduced social restrictions on individual behaviour, sexual liberation, and greater tolerance for permissive behaviour," he said.

"This was especially true for those who had been abused themselves."