Inquiry hears of church’s ‘dark ages’

AUSTRALIA
Herald Sun

AAP

The Catholic Church was in the dark ages when it allowed Australia’s worst pedophile priest to continue offending, says a priest who accepts part of the blame.

Two of former Ballarat bishop Ronald Mulkearns’ consultors have accepted at least some responsibility for Gerald Francis Ridsdale and others being allowed to devastate so many lives.

The church, like a lot of male institutions, gave pedophiles a place to hide, Fr Eric Bryant told the child abuse royal commission on Wednesday.

The 1982-1986 diocesan consultor said the church’s handling of Ridsdale was disastrous.

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