From the Catholic community
This page contains information and contributions from Catholic dioceses, archdioceses, orders, congregations and lay organisations relating to clerical sexual abuse and the Royal Commission.
Victoria on brink of national redress scheme for sex abuse survivors
24 Frbruary 2018
CaSPA Principal presents to International groups on Child Sexual Abuse
18 February 2018
Statement from Diocese of Parramatta on Fairfax 'wealth of the Church' story
14 February 2018
Statement from the Archdiocese of Perth
Royal Commission final report - 15 December 2017
Statement from the Marist Brothers
Royal Commission final hearing - 15 December 2017
Video Message from the Australian Jesuits
Royal Commission report response - 15 December 2017
Statement from the Archdiocese of Brisbane
Royal Commission final report - 15 December 2017
Statement from the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong
Royal Commission final report - 15 December 2017
Statement from the Diocese of Rockhampton
Royal Commission final hearing - 15 December 2017
Statement from the Diocese of Townsville
Royal Commission final report - 15 December 2017
Statement from the National Catholic Education Commission
Royal Commission final report - 15 December 2017
Statement from the Diocese of Port Pirie
Royal Commission final report - 15 December 2017
Statement from the Diocese of Lismore
Royal Commission final report - 15 December 2017
Statement from the Diocese of Ballarat
Royal Commission final report - 15 December 2017
Statement from the Diocese of Armidale
Royal Commission final report - 15 December 2017
Statement fro9m the Diocese of Toowoomba
Royal Commission final report - 15 December 2017
Statement from the Archdiocese of Hobart
Royal Commission final report - 15 December 2017
Statement from the Archdiocese of Canberra Goulburn
Royal Commission final report - 15 December 2017
Statement from the Archdiocese of Adelaide
Royal Commission final report - 15 December 2017
Statement from the Dioceseo of Sandhurst
Royal Commission final report - 15 December 2017
Statement from the Sisters of the Good Samaritan
Royal Commission final report - 15 December 2017
Statement from Sister Ruth Durick OSU, President of Catholic Religious Australia
Royal Commission Final Report - 15 December 2017
Joint statement from ACBC and CRA
Royal Commisison Final Report - 15 December 2017
Statement from Parramatta Bishop, Vincent Long
Royal Commission Final Report - 15 December 2017
Statement from Most Rev. Anthony Fisher OP Archbishop of Sydney
Royal Commission Final Report - 15 December 2017
Statement from De La Salle Brothers
Royal Commission Final Report - 15 December 2017
Statement from Catholic Professional Standards Limited
Royal Commission Final Report - 15 December 2017
Bishop Paul Bird’s response to the Royal Commission’s Report into Case Study 28
December 6, 2017
Archbishop Hart responds to the Royal Commission’s Report into Case Study 35
Media release 5 December 2017
Fr Peter Sherman Parish Priest, Ballarat East
Presentation given to community gathering at Emmaus Catholic Primary School, Ballarat
2 November 2017
Australian Jesuits welcome Redress Scheme
Media release 31 October 2017
Francis Sullivan, CEO Truth Justice and Healing Council
Maria Kirkwood, Director Catholic Education, Sale Diocese
Vincent Long, Bishop Parramatta
Yarra Theological Union panel discussion on child sexual abuse and the Royal Commission
12 October 2017
Letter - The Swag - Brendan Maher
May 2017
NCPS - See me, hear me: Child Protection Sunday 10 September
7 September 2017
Australian Jusuits Safeguarding Children 2016/17 Annual Report
September 2017
Catholic Professional Standards Limited Announces the Appointment of Board Directors
28 August 2017 - Media Release from CPS
Bishops call for protection of confessional seal following Royal Commission’s recommendations
Catholic Leader - 14 August 2017
Letter from Archbishop Fisher to priests regarding RC confessional recomendation
15 August 2017
Royal Commission recommendations on Confessional
14 August 2017 - Media release from ACBC
Marist Bicentenary Mass - Address from the Provincial Br Peter Carroll FMS
12 August 2017
Welcome from Brian Norman, member of the Solidarity Group of Frenchs Forest Catholic Parish
2 August 2017 - TJHC Parish visit
Further statement from Cardinal George Pell following announcement of charges
29 June 2017
Statement from Archdiocese of Sydney re announcement of charges against Cardinal George Pell
29 June 2017
Vatican communique re announcement of charges against Cardinal George Pell
29 June 2017
Statement from ACBC re announcement of charges against Cardinal George Pell
29 June 2017
Statement from Archdiocese of Melbourne re announcement of charges against Cardinal George Pell
29 June 2017
Initial statement from Cardinal George Pell following announcement of charges
29 June 2017
A full transcript of the speech delivered by Headmaster John Crowley
St Patrick's College Ballarat Apology - 28 June 2017
A full transcript of a speech read by College Captain Mitch Tuddenham
St Patrick's College Ballarat Apology - 28 June 2017
A full transcript of a speech delivered by Old Collegian Phil Nagle
St Patrick's College Ballarat Apology - 28 June 2017
A Response to Male Religious Statement of Apology
22 June 2017
Congregational Leaders: Statement of Apology from Male Religious to Female Religious
22 June 2017
Statement from Head of College, Dr Anne Wenham
St Stanislaus College Bathurst Public Apology - 16 June 2017
Statement from Provincial of Vincentian, Fr. Gregory Brett CM
St Stanislaus College Bathurst Public Apology - 16 June 2017
St Stanislaus College Public Apology booklet
St Stanislaus College Bathurst Public Apology - 16 June 2017
Statement Catholic Professional Standards Lt announces CEO
2 June 2017
Edmund Rice Education Australia Apologies to Survivors and Victims
EREA statement 1 June 2017
John Crowley, Headmaster St Patrick's College Ballarat, address at EREA National Apology, Canberra
1 June 2017
National Apology - Edmund Rice Education Australia
18 May 2017
Statement from Archbishop Fisher on Cardinal Pell
Archdioceses of Sydney - 17 May 2017
St Stanislaus College Bathurst Public Apology and Liturgy of Sorrow and Hope
Letter from Principal - 15 May 2017
Easter Message: Bishop Bill Wright: Diocese of Maitland Newcastle
11 April 2017
'We created the abuse', Church official tells priests its time to listen to the Community
Catholic Leader - 11 April 2017
Statement from Fr David Ranson, Vicar General, Diocese of Broken Bay, Royal Commission appearance
4 April 2017
Lenten Message from Parramatta Bishop Vincent Long
28 February 2017
Video Message from Perth Archbishop Timothy Costellow - Final hearing
28 February 2017
‘Governance and Culture: the Catholic Church in Australia’
The Swag, February 2017
Statement from Br David Hawke Provincial De la Salle - Final Hearing
24 February 2017
Statement from Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge - Final hearing
25 February 2017
Statement from Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart - Final hearing
24 February 2017
Homily - Fr Frank Brennan
5 February 2017
Pastoral Letter from Sale Bishop, Patrick O'Regan, ahead of final hearing
1 February 2017
Statement from Wollongong Bishop, Peter Ingham, ahead of Royal Commission final hearing
4 February 2017
Message from Parramatta Bishop, Vincent Long, ahead of Royal Commission Final Catholic hearing
3 February 2017
Archbishop Coleridge video message ahead of Royal Commission final hearing
2 February 2017
Brisbane Archbishop urges change as Commission ends Catholic review
Catholic Leader - 2 February 2017
Statement from Archbishop Hart regarding final Catholic Royal Commission case study
2 February 2017
Maitland Newcastle Diocese launches new Protection and Safety Council
Media release - 23 January 2017
St Stanislaus' Bathurst 150 year media statement
19 January 2017
Letter of the Holy Father Francis to the bishops on the Feast of the Holy Innocents
2 February 2017
St James Brighton service for healing and reconciliation
4 December 2016
Father Martin Dixon Homily - St James service
4 December 2016
Armidale memorial plans not to proceed
30 November 2016
Catholic Church in Australia launches new company to protect children and vulnerable adults
22 November 2016
Catholic Professional Standards - FAQs
22 November 2016
Melbourne Response compensation limit to double
18 November 2016
Child abuse memorial in Armidale Cathedral grounds
15 November 2016
Letter from Archbishop Hart to principals and priests on school Reconciliation
10 November 2016
Statement: Jesuits welcome redress scheme
10 November 2016
Statement from Marist Brothers - Redress
9 November 2016
Statement from Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher - National Redress Announcement
4 November 2016
Framework for Marist-Governed Schools Child Protection Standards
June 2016
Statement from Bishop Michael Kennedy at start of Farrell public hearing
9 September 2016
Statement from Bishop Vincent Long at start of Farrell public hearing
9 September 2016
Statement: Marist Brothers Provincial, Br Peter Carroll, Opening statement and apology, Case Study 43
8 September 2016
Statement from the Jesuits - Comprehensive strategy to safeguard children
6 September 2016
Statement from Bishop of Ballarat, Paul Bird: Bishop Mulkearns' estate
6 September 2016
Statement from Marist Brothers ahead of commencement of Maitland Newcastle public hearing
30 August 2016
Statement from the Marist Brothers’ Province of Australia – Royal Commission
27 July 2016
New child protection training for school staff
Media release Catholic Education Commission of Victoria - 9 August 2016
Statement from Cardinal Pell re 7.30 child sex abuse allegations
27 July 2016
Statement from Archbishop Hart re 7.30 child sex abuse allegations against Cardinal Pell
27 July 2016
Statement from Archbishop Fisher re 7.30 child sex abuse allegations againast Cardinal Pell
27 July 2016
Statement to 7.30 from Cardinal Pell re child sex abuse allegations
22 July 2016
Statement from Bishop Bill Wright on announcement of Newcastle Maitland RC hearing
27 July 2016
Statement from Marist Brothers' Province of Australia ahead of Newcastle Maitland RC hearing
27 July 2016
Statement from Armidale Bishop, Michael Kennedy - Royal Commission hearing into dioceses of Parramatta and Armidale
6 July 2016
Letter from Parramatta Bishop, Vincent Long - Royal Commission hearing into dioceses of Parramatta and Armidale
6 July 2016
Media statement Diosese Parramatta - Royal Commission hearing into dioceses of Parramatta and Armidale
6 July 2016
Statement from the Sisters of the Good Samaritan
16 June 2016
Statement from the Christian Brothers Oceania Province
25 May 2016
50th World Communications Day - Communicating the Power of Mercy
ACBC 4 May 2016
Joint Statement from Diocese of Rockhampton and Sisters of Mercy - Royal Commission final report into St Joseph’s Orphanage, Neerkol
21 April 2016
Statement from Bishop Bird following the death of Bishop Mulkearns
4 April 2016
Statement from the Christian Brothers Oceania re handling of compensation to abuse victims
30 March 2016
Statement - Cardinal Pell - Meeting with Ballarat survivors
3 March 2016
Statement - Bishop Bill Wright - Royal Commission
2 March 2016
Statement - Cardinal Pell - Survivor Meetings
2 March 2016
What is Loud Fence?
March 2016
Statement - Cardinal Pell calls for investigation into leaks
22 February 2016
Statement - Archbishop Hart re leaked Sano allegations
20 February 2016
Statement - Bishop Comensoli re leaked Sano allegations
20 February 2016
Statement - Archbishop Fisher re leaked Sano allegations
19 February 2016
Statement - Cardinal Pell re leaked Sano allegations
19 February 2016
Statement - Archbishop Denis Hart re Cardinal Pell evidence
18 February 2016
Statement - Cardinal Pell regarding giving RC evidence from Rome
17 February 2016
Statement - Catholic Diocese of the Australian Defence Force - Bishop Max Davis
16 February 2016
Cardinal Pell statement Ballarat directions hearing
8 February 2016
Cardinal Pell clarification regarding Royal Commission application
13 December 2015
Partial Transcript: Cardinal Pell Royal Commission Application
11 December 2015
Statement from the Office of Cardinal George Pell in Rome
11 December 2015
Statement from Marist Brothers on RC final report into Canberra hearing
11 December 2015
Marist Brothers resolve to adopt Catholic Church's guidelines on civil claims
2 December 2015
Pastoral letter from Ballarat Bishop Paul Bird ahead of recommencement of Ballarat RC public hearing
20 November 2015
New child protection office part of Archdiocese of Sydney review
30 September 2015
Archbishop Hart welcomes release of Royal Commission Reports
15 September 2015
The Australian Province of the Society of Jesus child protection policy
10 September 2015
Christian Brothers Oceania Province completed nearly 50% of re-examinations in WA
7 July 2015
Perth Archbishop sets world first in preventing abuse
5 July 2015
Response to Royal Commission Findings on St Ann’s Special School
5 June 2015
Statement from Archbishops and Bishops in support of Cardinal Pell
2 June 2015
Statement of Archbishop Denis Hart - Cardinal Pell
1 June 2015
Postcard- Contact the Council
Download post card with TJHC contact details
Child protection expert appointed by Catholic Archbishop
14 September 2014
Francis Sullivan's speech at the Archdiocese of Brisbane’s ‘Assembly of Catholic Professionals’
11 September 2014
Christian Brothers in WA Royal Commission undertakings update no. 2
2 September 2014
Catholic Archbishop welcomes extension to Royal Commission’s invaluable work
2 September 2014
Media Statement by Archbishop Hart
25 August 2014
Media Release from Marist Brother' Province of Australia
7 August 2014
Homily of Pope Francis
Holy Mass in the Chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae with a group of clergy sex abuse victims
7 July 2014
Letter from Br Jeffrey Crowe FMS, Provincial Superior, Marist Brothers
Marist Brothers
2 July 2014
Mercy Sister Berneice Loch OAM elected as new President of Catholic Religious Australia
Catholic Religious Australia
1 July 2014
Letter to the people of the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn
Archbishop Christopher Prowse
5 June 2014
Message to the people of the Diocese of Wollongong regarding the Royal Commission
Bishop Peter W Ingham
4 June 2014
Update on Royal Commission undertakings
Christian Brothers
27 May 2014
We will right this terrible wrong
Br Julian McDonald, Deputy province leader, Christian Brothers Oceania Province.
The Australian Newspaper
12 May 2014
Survivors of Abuse will receive ongoing counselling as long as it needed
Christian Brothers
7 May 2014
Statement regarding the Royal Commission hearings in Perth
Christian Brothers
30 April 2014
Letter from Archbishop of Perth
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe
24 April 2014
Letter from the Archbishop of Perth:The Royal Commission Executive Summary
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe
24 April 2014
George Pell can lift the veil of secreacy around sex abuse
Sydney Morning Herald
17 March 2014
Catholicism in Australia: Demographics, scandal underlie tectonic shifts
National Catholic Reporter
17 March 2014
Pastoral Letter to the people of the Archdiocese of Adelaide
Archbishop Wilson
12 March 2014
Letter to Madonna King
The Archbishop of Brisbane Mark Coleridge
24 February 2014
Major Support for Church's Council
The Catholic Leader
13 January 2014
Archbishop Denis Hart Welcomes Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry Report
Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne
13 November 2013
The Commitment of the Australian Catholic Church
The Catholic Church in Australia, in its submissions to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and in its communications with both the Catholic and broader communities has made this commitment.
Francis Sullivan addresses the Aquinas Academy
16 September 2013
The Irish Experience
Ian Elliott
10 September 2013
Keeping the Faith
Kate Bartlett Newcastle University Chaplain
13 August 2013
Apology from Bishop Bill Wright
Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle
6 August 2013
Statement from Emeritus Bishop Michael Malone
Emeritus Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle
6 August 2013
Pastoral Letter from Bishop Wright regarding the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry
28 June 2013
Archbishop Coleridge welcomes the Royal Commission to Queensland
Archdiocese of Brisbane Media Release
11 June 2013
Archbishops Re-Commit To Eradicating The Evil of Sexual Abuse
Catholic Communications, Sydney
4 June 2013
Speech by Archbishop Denis Hart at the Leadership for Change luncheon
31 May 2013
Statement by Cardinal George Pell on the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry
28 May 2013
Closing Statement by Archbishop Denis Hart to Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry
20 May 2013
Statement from Pope Francis on church sexual assault
5 April 2013
Letter from the Archbishop of Brisbane welcoming the Royal Commission
28 March 2013
Sowing in Tears is a Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of NSW to the Clergy, Religious and Laity in response to the Royal Commission on Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Lent 2013
Pastoral Letter from Bishop Michael E. Putney about the Royal Commission.
6 December, 2012
At the Hinge of History
Annette Cunliffe rsc
Catholic Religious Australia
20 Nov 2012
Royal Commission will be healing for the Church
Bishop William Wright
20 November 2012
Update on the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Sexual Abuse
Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney
15 November 2012
Response of the Archdiocese of Sydney
outlines the practices and procedures that the Archdiocese of Sydney follows today in responding to sexual abuse.
Statement to the people of the Diocese of Parramatta on the Royal Commission into Child Abuse
17 November 2012
Message to the people of the Diocese of Wollongong by the Bishop pf Wollongong Peter W Ingham DD Welcoming the Royal Commission
16 November 2012
Statement from the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference - Royal Commission Bishops' Response
12 November 2012
A Pastoral Letter on Sexual Abuse
Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.
1 July 2010
A Pentecost Letter on Sexual Abuse of the Young in the Catholic Church
Archbishop Mark Coleridge 23 May 2010