AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald

March 10, 2014
Bernadette Tobin

In 1996, just three months after he was installed as archbishop of Melbourne, George Pell established a humane, just, thorough and independent process to respond to the crime of sexual abuse of children by clergy and others: it has become known as the Melbourne Response.

Some months later, the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference established a similar process, called Towards Healing. The Melbourne Response was (to the best of my knowledge) the first institutional response to the crime of sexual abuse of children established by a diocese anywhere in the world.

There is debate as to the relative merits of the Melbourne Response and Towards Healing. No doubt each has its strengths and weaknesses. No doubt things can always be done better.

But one thing is clear. The rapidity with which he acted once he had the requisite authority reveals…