Cardinal Pell Gets It Sooo Wrong

This week here in Oz the government [under some pressure] announced a Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse [yes there will be a more technical title and terms of reference]. It's really in response to a building story here about instances of abuse by Catholic Clergy that there's no doubt the media have increasingly highlighted as victims and support groups have seized on instances and ramifications to put pressure on governments.
It's clear from responses yesterday that Cardinal Pell [Sydney Arch Bishop] just doesn't get it...
For years the Church's institutional response has featured denial, punishment, legal advice never to admit liability, silence and 'moving Priests on.'
In more recent times ther church has put more transparent and fair processes in place, made settlements and sanctioned Priests BUT they continue to hold up changes, mediation, settlements etc as somehow meaning that things are OK...


Maybe there should be:
- apologies not encouragement to 'move on'
- acknowledgement of fallibility and mistakes rather than pronouncements of change
- humilty in the face of being shown up rather than cliams of media witch hunts
- openness and cooperation rather than constant minimising...
- Someone who hasn't been accused of cover ups and ignoring the truth might be a better spokesperson

Maybe everytime an announcement, question or comment is made they would do well to acknowledge the past and those effected even when the systems now in place would be much better at unearthing the truth and helping people move on...

Anyhow,having added their voice to the call for the Commission to be wider than just the Catholic Church, I would expect the Church to begin to focus on confession, humilty, transparency and letting better actiosn speak louder than shrill words!!