AUSTRALIA
ABC News
Natasha Harradine
The Catholic Archbishop of Perth says a new project to protect children from child abuse is his major priority during his time in the role.
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe said the Safeguarding Project, believed to be the first of its kind nationally, has been launched in response to what he described as the “terrible scandal of sexual abuse of children” in the care of the Catholic Church.
The church has been identified during the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse as repeatedly failing to act on reports that members and clergy had abused children.
The Safeguarding Project has been welcomed by 720 ABC Perth presenter Eoin Cameron who was abused as a child by a priest and won compensation from the church.
Archbishop Costelloe said while the church would respond to issues raised in the royal commission, it was important to act now.
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