AUSTRALIA
The Courier
By TOM McILROY
Dec. 5, 2012
BALLARAT’S Catholic Bishop Paul Bird has welcomed tomorrow’s sitting of a Victorian parliamentary inquiry into institutional child sexual abuse and said he was committed to improved safety standards.
Bishop Bird said priests, religious leaders and parishioners in the Ballarat Diocese had welcomed the inquiry and a forthcoming national royal commission as a chance for healing for the church and victims of abuse.
He said the church had changed its practices in dealing with “the tragedy of child sexual abuse”.
“It has been welcomed by many who want an independent look at what has happened, and as an exercise which will bring to light some important lessons,” he said.
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