AUSTRALIA
Adelaide Now

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard made the correct decision to call a Royal Commission into child sex abuse within institutions such as religious bodies.

Ms Gillard did not release the terms of reference but said the inquiry will include children in the care of religious organisations, state care and not-for-profit bodies.

Demand for a Royal Commission has built in recent weeks as a series of reports on abuse within the Catholic Church and allegations of systemic cover-ups come to light.

While the Catholic Church was not explicitly mentioned by Ms Gillard yesterday, this Royal Commission provides an opportunity for the Church to free itself from the dark aspects of its past to again concentrate on the good it does within society.