AUSTRALIA
ABC News
By Dan Cox
The Hunter Valley’s Catholic Church has moved to reassure a New South Wales inquiry into child sexual abuse the mistakes of the past will not be repeated.
The special commission is investigating claims the church covered up abuse by two paedophile priests, Denis McAlinden and James Fletcher.
Documents tendered to the inquiry show the church knew about McAlinden’s abuse which spanned 50 years.
Representing the Maitland-Newcastle diocese Lachlan Giles has summed up his case, saying church officials should not be “unfairly criticised” for their handling of the allegations.
He said they were adhering to the victims’ wishes not to involve police
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