AUSTRALIA
The Australian
RHIAN DEUTROM February 9, 2017
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The Vatican enforced a culture of secrecy regarding cases of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, the royal commission has heard today.
A panel of experts, specialising in canonical or church law, appeared before the final hearing of the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse, agreeing almost unanimously that the directives from Rome were often geared to protect its flock rather than its victims.
Counsel assisting Stephen Free described the pastoral approach as a bishop attempting “for an appropriate period of time and with every means available to help the petitioner to overcome to difficulties which he experiences”.
The approach could involve “transferring him (the perpetrator) from the place in which he is exposed to the danger and according to the nature of the case, giving him the help of brother priests, friends…doctors or psychologists,” Mr Free said.
Father Thomas Doyle gave evidence regarding a lack of co-operation from the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the church, the Holy See, when faced with allegations of child sexual abuse.
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