BishopAccountability.org

Royal Commission into child sex abuse: Senior ranks of Catholic Church to front inquiry

By Carleen Frost
Herald Sun
February 5, 2017

https://goo.gl/G7MDge


[with video]

ABUSE survivor Joan Katherine Isaacs called revelations to the Royal Commission into child sex abuse “gut-wrenching”, while her husband said there was “no Christ” in the Vatican, which declined to provide documents about Australian priests to the royal commission.

“There are just so many children who have been so damaged over tens of years because of the Catholic Church, and because of the extent of their cover ups,” Ms Isaacs said outside the hearing today.

“I just wanted to come to be witness to the exposure of these dreadful crimes against children.”

Protesters placed placards outside the Royal Commission calling for compensation for victims.

It came as the Commission resumed after hearing from a Catholic Church official who broke down at the Royal Commission into child sex abuse which has been told seven per cent of Catholic priests surveyed were alleged perpetrators of child sexual abuse.

The CEO of the Truth, Justice and Healing Council Francis Sullivan, who represents the catholic dioceses, archdioceses and religious congregations across Australia, cried as he told the hearing: “There can be no doubt that the proportion of priests since 1950 against whom even claims of abuse have been made undermines the image and credibility of the priesthood.

“...These number are shocking, they are tragic and they are indefensible.”

Some of the most senior members of the Catholic Church in Australia are preparing to give evidence at the Royal Commission today.




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