AUSTRALIA
ABC News

The process used by the Catholic Church in Melbourne to handle abuse claims discouraged victims from going to the police in some instances, the royal commission into child abuse has found.

In 1996 then archbishop George Pell introduced the Melbourne Response, as the church’s process to deal with people sexually abused by priests and others within the Archdiocese.

It allowed anyone making allegations of abuse to have what the church called an “independent commissioner” to investigate their claims and make findings.

Compensation from the scheme was originally capped at $50,000 before being lifted to $75,000, with the cap a subject of contention among victims and their advocates.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found independent commissioner Peter O’Callaghan QC provided advice to two victims, Paul Hersbach and Mr AFA, that discouraged them from going to police.

Mr Hersbach was groomed and abused…