AUSTRALIA
ABC – AM
ASHLEY HALL: The Vatican has declined a request from a royal commission to hand over documents about child sex abuse committed by Catholic priests in Australia.
At a conference in Sydney later today, the head of the royal commission, Justice Peter McClellan will detail the Vatican’s written response.
It says the Holy See maintains the confidentiality of internal deliberations and it would be inappropriate to provide such documents.
Lindy Kerin reports
LINDY KERIN: The head of the toyal commission Justice Peter McClellan revealed last month that he’d personally written to the Vatican.
He was seeking copies of all documents that relate to complaints about abuse involving priests here in Australia.
But the Vatican has declined. In a written response, it’s said it;
(Excerpt from Vatican response)
VATICAN (voiceover): Respectfully suggests that requests for all information regarding every case which includes requests for documents reflecting internal ‘deliberations’ are not appropriate.
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