A Royal Commission into child sex abuse in the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church in Australia continues to resist accountability for the appalling crimes committed by many of its members both past and present, through legal chicanery, police obstruction, wilful denial and nonsensical claims that internal investigations are the best mechanisms for dealing with this problem. Police reports released this year have revealed links between at least 40 cases of suicide and sexual abuse by Catholic clergy. It is highly probable these cases are just the tip of the iceberg, and it is certain that hundreds more victims exist whose lives have been irrevocably damaged by sexual abuse. Melbourne-based lawyer Judy Courtin recently told the World Today: "I think the only vehicle, the only type of inquiry that would not only help deliver justice but would do justice to victims and would match the very powerful, wealthy church, it would match the legalistic, adversarial and sometimes very arrogant modus operandi of the church, would be a royal commission."