Australian Royal Commission Archives

Cardinal Pell’s appeal of abuse conviction to be heard March 11-12

Feb 16, 2020

Cardinal George Pell will have his last chance to have his conviction for sexually abusing two 13-year old choirboys overturned when his lawyers plead his case to the High Court of Australia March 11-12.

By Michael Sainsbury

Australian archbishop rejects breaking seal of confession for abusers

Jan 17, 2020

The president of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference is the latest of the country’s senior clerics to push back against legislation to lift the seal of confession for child sexual abuse.

By Michael Sainsbury

Committee to recommend Australian bishops give laity certain controls

Jan 16, 2020

A six-person committee charged with reviewing church governance and management is expected to present Australia’s bishops with a plan to overhaul the management of the Church in the country.

By Michael Sainsbury

New admission by diocese could cost Australian Church millions in claims

Sep 13, 2019

The Australian Catholic Church could face tens of millions of dollars in compensation claims after the Diocese of Ballarat in Victoria state admitted, for the first time, it knew of the behavior of a pedophile priest yet continued to move him around from parish to parish.

By Michael Sainsbury

Australian prelate says mandatory reporting, seal of confession not ‘mutually exclusive’

Aug 16, 2019

Mandatory reporting of child sex abuse by religious ministers is a welcome reform, according to Archbishop Peter Comensoli of Melbourne, but the seal of confession can’t be broken for any reason.

By Charles Collins

Australian Catholic Church releases standards for child protection

Jun 3, 2019

The Australian Catholic Church has released its National Catholic Safeguarding Standards, more than 18 months after they were recommended by the country’s landmark Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, in the latest chapter in the overhaul of how the Church responds to clergy sexual abuse.

By Michael Sainsbury