12:28 PM Bishops support Royal Commission into child abuse | |
Published: November 12, 2012 Ms Gillard said the commission would address "institutional responses
to child abuse" - the instances of abuse as well as the manner in which
they have been dealt - by a range of institutions. She said she would work in coming weeks with Attorney General Nicola
Roxon to define the terms of reference, but said she imagined the
investigation would go back decades. Ms Gillard stressed the inquiry would not be limited to the Catholic Church. "We will work on the specific terms of reference but
this is about children who were in the care of religious organisations -
so that's all religious organisations - it's about children who were in
state care, it's about children who were in the care of not-for-profit
bodies other than religious organisations, it will therefore go as well
to the response of children's services agencies, and the response of the
police." The President and Permanent Committee of the Australian Catholic
Bishops Conference, on behalf of the Australian Bishops, said: "this is a
serious issue not just for the Catholic Church but for the whole
community. As Catholic bishops and as individuals we share the feelings
of horror and outrage which all decent people feel when they read the
reports of sexual abuse and allegations of cover-ups," the ACBC said in a
statement. The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Pell, said he welcomed the PM's
announcement. "Public opinion remains unconvinced that the Catholic
Church has dealt adequately with sexual abuse. Ongoing and at times
one-sided media coverage has deepened this uncertainty. This is one of
the reasons for my support for this Royal Commission. "I welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement. I believe the air
should be cleared and the truth uncovered. We shall co-operate fully
with the Royal Commission." FULL COVERAGE PM announces abuse Royal Commission (SMH) Nile claims major parties nervous about abuse inquiry (SMH) At last: thanks very much (Age) Victims' cries are finally heard (Age) Policeman says inquiry should spur church to change (ABC) Frank Brennan's reservations about scope of royal commission (ABC) 100 men launch action over ACT colleges (Canberra Times) RELEASES ACBC response to Royal Commission Time to clear the air, says Cardinal Pell | |
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The
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference says it supports the
announcement of a Royal Commission by Prime Minister Julia Gillard to
investigate decades of child abuse in churches, schools and foster
homes, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.| Total comments: 0 | |
