AUSTRALIA
The Age
Olivia Shying
Ballarat diocese will cement itself as a national leader when it sets aside former Bishop Ronald Mulkearns’ estate to help survivors of sexual abuse.
Survivors of clergy abuse at the hands of Catholic priests in Ballarat have heralded Bishop Paul Bird’s announcement that the rumoured $2.1 million estate left to the church will be set aside for assistance to victims of abuse as an “example that other dioceses in Australia can look up to”.
In March, Cardinal George Pell made an impassioned promise to work with a group of survivors and agencies, especially the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors – whose leader, Father Hans Zollner, came to Ballarat just months ago.
Cardinal Pell’s Rome vision of making Ballarat a healing centre has yet to be realised.
Bishop Bird’s lauded announcement is a continuation of the diocese’s ongoing work with survivors to ensure their welfare is considered after the Royal Commission.
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