AUSTRALIA
Sky News
An apology made by Australia’s most senior Catholic to those who suffered abuse at the hands of priests has been labelled a ‘minimal response’ by a child sexual abuse victims group.
In his Christmas message, Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell said he was ‘deeply sorry’ for the hurt that had occurred, calling it ‘completely contrary’ to Christ’s teachings.
But he did not specifically mention allegations of child sex abuse by members of the clergy, only those who ‘suffered at the hands’ of fellow Christians, Christian officials, priests and religious teachers.
Adults Surviving Child Abuse president Dr Cathy Kezelman said the Catholic Church needed to be more transparent and forthright about its role in the abuse of children over the years.
‘It’s an absolutely minimal response to express regret,’ she told AAP on Monday.
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