Fed: Victim support group wants Pell inquiry made public
MELBOURNE, Aug 28 AAP - A victim support group today called for the findings of theinquiry into sex abuse allegations against Sydney Catholic Archbishop George Pell to bemade public.
Under the inquiry's terms of reference released yesterday, all hearings will be conductedby retired Victorian Supreme Court judge Alex Southwell, QC, "in camera".
The final report will only be made public if the chairmen of the Catholic Church'sNational Committee for Professional Standards (NCPS) deems it appropriate.
"It's quite logical that there's no good having an investigation if it's not made public,"
the president of victim support group Broken Rites, Chris MacIsaac, said.
"To make it credible people have got to know how it's progressed and what's taken placeand we need the findings of the investigation made public."
Dr Pell stood aside last week pending an investigation into claims he molested a 12-year-oldboy while working as a trainee priest at a Catholic holiday camp in Victoria in 1961.
Dr Pell has strenuously denied the allegations, describing them as "lies".
The complainant in the case today claimed the church had failed to let him see theterms of reference before they were made public.
Mrs MacIsaac said she was increasingly concerned whether there would be a fair outcome.
"I think it just puts the whole thing off on a wrong footing," she said.
"It's keeping it all very hushed and secretive and if the inquiry isn't transparentthen I think people will have doubts as to the results of it.
"The complainant was seeking healing and reconciliation ... but the church is makingthat difficult to achieve in this case."
Mrs MacIsaac said the church should never have offered to let the complainant see theterms of reference if they did not intend to follow it through.
"I think it shows that they have no insight or no respect for the whole issue at all," she said.
AAP ce/gfr/ph/de
KEYWORD: PELL TERMS RITES
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