AUSTRALIA
The Sunday Telegraph
Cardinal George Pell
The Sunday Telegraph
November 10, 2012
Church officials will co-operate fully with the Special Commission of Inquiry into the handling of sex abuse in the Hunter.
Such a commission has enormous powers, very similar to those of a royal commission.
Bishop Bill Wright of Newcastle diocese is on record as supporting this inquiry. I support it also. It is a measured and justified response.
My advice as archbishop to Catholic priests and people is the same as it always has been during my time as archbishop. Comply with the law; tell complainants to go to the police. In NSW allegations of child sex abuse have to be reported; an obligation since the early 1990s.
Much of the public discussion is about how the church dealt with cases 20 or so years ago. Critics talk as though earlier inadequacies are still prevalent. Major procedural changes in dealing with these matters have been implemented since 1996.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.