AUSTRALIA
SBS

Source: AAP
14 DEC 2015

An Australian bishop has been accused of not being candid about his knowledge of pedophile priests in a bid to protect himself and the Catholic Church.

Brisbane auxiliary bishop Brian Finnigan had not sought to help the child abuse royal commission’s investigation into pedophile priest Gerald Francis Ridsdale’s offending in the Diocese of Ballarat, the inquiry heard.

Counsel assisting the commission Angus Stewart SC compared Bishop Finnigan’s evidence to church officials’ response to child sex abuse complaints in the 1980s.

Mr Stewart said the former Ballarat vicar-general and bishop’s secretary’s evidence lacked compassion and was not candid.

Bishop Finnigan disagreed, although he said the response of church officials was appalling.