Christian Message Boards: Church to hold abuse inquiry behind closed doors

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Posted by Kindgo (Member # 2) on :

Archbishop Pell says the abuse claim is a vindictive smear.

NEWS

A sexual abuse victims rights group says there is no point in having an inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse against the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, George Pell, unless the result is made public.

The Catholic Church yesterday released the terms of reference for the inquiry that is looking into claims that Dr Pell sexually abused a 12-year-old boy at a Catholic Holiday Camp on Victoria's Phillip Island in 1961.

The hearings will take place behind closed doors in Melbourne.

Under the terms of reference those involved are obliged to remain silent about all information disclosed during the hearings.

Spokeswoman for the Broken Rites lobby group, Chris MacIsaac, says she is worried about the level of secrecy outlined in the terms of reference.

"The findings of the hearings should be made public," she said.

"It's keeping it all very hushed and secretive and if the inquiry isn't transparent then I think people will have doubts as to the results of it."

But the church's National Committee for Professional Standards will not decide on whether to release commissioner Alex Southwell's final report until the inquiry is over.