AUSTRALIA
ABC Rural
[with audio]
By Jessica Swann
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
In rural Australia the Church still plays an important role in bringing the community together, but when the Church is under intense scrutiny, rural parishioners question their faith in God and in the Catholic Church.
This week the Australian government has called for public help to shape the terms of reference of a Royal Commission into child sex abuse in Australia.
The investigation will be broad including schools, community groups and religious institutions.
It also announced there will be consultations with stakeholders including victims of abuse, community leaders and religious groups.
It’s the Catholic Church however that is the feeling the heat the most.
For one small parish in rural New South Wales, the pews were full last Sunday but the parishioners expressed a deep sense of disappointment and confusion at what is shaping up to be an avalanche of accusations against members of the clergy within the Catholic Church.
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