SYDNEY Auxiliary Bishop Geoffrey Robinson has called for a Church-wide study of clerical sex abuse to help prevent such acts and their cover-up in the future.
Bishop Robinson, who helped write the Church’s sex abuse policy in Australia, said the recent US-Vatican summit was beneficial because it made the Vatican think about the issue and prompted a strong papal statement against abuse.
But Catholics and victims of abuse now want to see deeds, not words, he said in response to questions from Catholic News Service.
‘I believe that the Church will regain credibility on this issue only when the Pope sets in train (motion) a truly serious, open and objective study into any and all factors within the Church that might in any way contribute to a climate where abuse can occur or be covered up when it has occurred,’ said Bishop Robinson.
The bishop said such a study should include a review of priestly celibacy. He said celibacy was not the sole or direct cause of sexual abuse but can be a contributing factor, and no study would have credibility if celibacy were left out.
