AUSTRALIA
ABC News
[with video]
The Catholic Church is under fire over its weak response to revelations that its officials failed to act against paedophiles in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley region.
Transcript
SARAH FERGUSON, PRESENTER: The Catholic Church is under fire over its weak response to revelations that its officials failed to act against paedophiles in the New South Wales Hunter Valley.
The Church has stood down two mid-level priests from minor bureaucratic roles, but is yet to act against two of its most senior clergymen, who were criticised in the report by the special commission of inquiry.
One of the priests who was singled out by the inquiry who’s at the very top of the Church, we can’t name.
The other is the general secretary of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Brian Lucas. Tonight, there are calls for his resignation.
Adam Harvey reports.
WILLIAM WRIGHT, BISHOP, DIOCESE OF MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE: As Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle, I am profoundly sorry for the terrible hurt caused by the crimes of McAlinden and Fletcher and I have a deep and abiding regret that individuals in this diocese failed to protect the most vulnerable.
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