AUSTRALIA
Christianity Today
By: Truth Justice and Healing Council
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
Work is now underway within the Catholic Church to review the education of people training for the priesthood in Australian Dioceses.
As part of a Vatican initiative the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference, through a group of senior seminary directors and other professionals, is looking at current practices regarding child protection training in Australian seminaries and theological colleges.
The CEO of the Truth Justice and Healing Council, Francis Sullivan, met with the group engaged in the review in Sydney recently (23/4/14). He said a detailed study to identify gaps in child protection training for new priests is an important part of the Church’s reforms.
“Priests have an important role to play in ensuring the safety of children in Catholic communities,” Mr Sullivan said.
“Priests need to be able to recognise signs of child abuse, understand how to respond to allegations of abuse and be fully aware of the boundaries in place for all people working with children.
“Ultimately the group will provide advice to the Bishops Conference on current practices in seminaries and theological colleges on the formation of new priests.
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