Public Hearing into Catholic Church Authorities in Ballarat

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
February 11, 2016

http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2016-02/public-hearing-into-catholic-church-authorities-in


The Royal Commission will hold a public hearing commencing Monday 22 February 2016 at the Ballarat Magistrates Court.

The scope and purpose of the public hearing is to inquire into:

The response of the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat and other Catholic Church authorities in Ballarat to allegations of child sexual abuse against clergy or religious.

The response of the Congregation of the Christian Brothers in St Patrick’s Province, Australia, to allegations of child sexual abuse against Christian Brothers.

Any related matters.

Cardinal George Pell will give evidence from 29 February 2016 by video link from Rome concerning Case Study 35: Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and Case Study 28: Catholic Church authorities in Ballarat. The Royal Commission will sit in Sydney and, in accordance with a request from Cardinal Pell, the hearing will commence at 08:00am AEDT.

The Trench Room at Ballarat Town Hall will be made available for members of the community during the public hearing, including Cardinal Pell’s evidence.

For more information on Case Study 28 into the Catholic Church authorities in Ballarat please visit the Case Study 28 webpage

Date: Monday 22 February 2016

Time: 10.00am AEDT start

Location: Ballarat Magistrates Court, 100 Grenville St S, Ballarat VIC 3350

Any person or institution who believes that they have a direct and substantial interest in the scope and purpose of the public hearing is invited to lodge a written application for leave to appear at the public hearing by 15 February 2016.

Applications for leave to appear should be made using the form available on the Royal Commission website.

Parties who were granted leave to appear in the first or second part of the public hearing of Case Study 28 or Case Study 35 do not need to reapply.

Leave to appear will generally be granted when an applicant:

a. has been summoned to give evidence

b. is an institution, or is a representative of an institution, that is subject to the

inquiry to be undertaken

c. may be the subject of an adverse allegation.

It is not essential for a person who will appear as a witness in a hearing to apply for leave to appear – witnesses may appear and give evidence without applying for leave.

The form should be lodged with the Royal Commission via: Email: solicitor@childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au; or Mail: GPO Box 5283, Sydney NSW 2001