AUSTRALIA
Radio Australia
Child abuse sex inquiry: Bishop Paul Bird denies as many as 14 Ballarat priests involved in abuse as hearings wrap up
By court reporter Peta Carlyon
A bishop disputes figures at a royal commission hearing in Victoria that the diocese of Ballarat had at least 14 priests involved in child sexual abuse.
At least 14 priests in the diocese of Ballarat are the subject of complaints of child sexual abuse, a royal commission hearing in Victoria has been told.
However, that figure was disputed by Bishop Paul Bird who testified on the final day of hearings in Ballarat of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Child Sexual Abuse.
Bishop Bird said while he does not know the actual figure, he does not think all of the complaints were substantiated.
“It’s less than 14 … maybe 12, maybe 10,” he said.
Bishop Bird agreed there were clear divisions in the Ballarat community in relation to survivors of child abuse being encouraged to come forward.
“Some people don’t think it’s a good thing,” he said.
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