Melbourne Response discouraged some victims from going to police

Catholic Church's Melbourne Response discouraged some victims from going to police, inquiry finds

The process used by the Catholic Church in Melbourne to handle abuse claims discouraged victims from going to the police in some instances, the royal commission into child abuse has found.

In 1996 then archbishop George Pell introduced the Melbourne Response, as the church's process to deal with people sexually abused by priests and others within the Archdiocese.

It allowed anyone making allegations of abuse to have what the church called an "independent commissioner" to investigate their claims and make findings.

 

Royal Commission findings into The Melbourne Response of the Catholic Church

Archbishop Little wrote, ‘The fact that he is still a priest incardinated in the Archdiocese of Melbourne is very difficult for me to explain to the enemies of the Church, and to the general public’. http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/232af799-8292-4709-a392-5d8bc7d3e77c/Report-of-Case-Study-No-16