Australia: Church examines institutional questions after abuse crisis

The Catholic Church in Australia is looking into major reforms that could give laypeople a greater say in Church affairs and make financial dealings more transparent. The proposals are contained in a confidential report, commissioned by the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference after the Australian church found itself one of the epicentres of the sexual abuse crisis.

The 208-page report, presented to the Australian bishops last month, is titled, 'The Light from the Southern Cross: Promoting Co-Responsible Governance in the Catholic Church in Australia'. It is in response to the Royal Commission into the Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2013-17), which found that the hierarchical nature of the church had created "a culture of deferential obedience" in which the behaviour of paedophile priests was left unchallenged. However, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is unlikely to publicly release or reveal how it will respond to its 86 recommendations until the end of the year.

Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, the current president of the Bishops' Conference, acknowledged that the proposals could have "far-reaching implications for the Church's life and mission". He said: "to do it justice, the bishops will now take advice, consider the report in depth, conduct discussions at a provincial level, and otherwise prepare for a full discussion at their November plenary".

The report is based on a 15-month review of church governance, which was conducted by an 18-member panel led by Justice Neville Owen. Recommendations are thought to include increased transparency and accountability. Dioceses and Church agencies would be required to meet similar governance standards to other organisations and make financial reports publicly available. Lay people would be given more power, especially more women in leadership roles.

Some are disappointed by the secrecy surrounding the report. Peter Johnstone, the convener of the Australian Catholic Coalition for Church Reform, told the Sydney Morning Herald, it was "supremely ironic" that the bishops were now refusing to release a report that called on them to be more transparent and inclusive of the communities they serve. Catholics for Renewal president Peter Wilkinson called for the report to be made public in the near future.