Call for voluntary celibacy for priests, seal of confession to be broken

A royal commission suggests allowing voluntary celibacy for Catholic priests, ending ex-communication and breaking the seal of confessional as part of a national strategy to prevent child sexual abuse.

In suggested structural changes that could be seen to strike at the heart of some institutions, the royal commission into child abuse has warned governments and institutions they “must not fail” children again.

The inquiry has controversially suggested the Catholic Church consider voluntary celibacy for diocesan clergy and the Jehovah's Witnesses abandon a 2000-year-old rule in handling child sex abuse cases and stop shunning victims who leave the organisation.

In calling for the introduction of voluntary celibacy for clergy, the commission found that it had contributed to child abuse.

Commissioners Justice Peter McClellan and Justice Jennifer Coates at the final sitting of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Sydney. Source: AAP

It’s also suggested a new criminal offence should be introduced to make prosecution of institutions that fail in their duty to protect children, or fail disclose instances of abuse, easier.

It again called for strengthened and nationally consistent mandatory reporting laws that include people in religious ministry and no exemption when the information came from a religious confession.

It also wants abusers stripped of any honours and a national memorial to recognise the tens of thousands of children sexually abused in more than 4000 Australian institutions.

The royal commission's 17-volume final report has more than 400 recommendations, the bulk of which have already been released, aimed at making institutions safer for children

Celibacy in the Catholic clergy contributed to the abuse of children, a royal commission found. Source: AAP/Stock

The five-year investigation found "multiple and persistent failings of institutions to keep children safe, the cultures of secrecy and cover-up, and the devastating affects child sexual abuse can have on an individual's life".

• Overview of child abuse royal commission

• [] Key recommendations from abuse inquiry

• Abuse final report 'historic': Gillard

"Further necessary and lasting change must come from a resolve by governments, institutions and the entire community to acknowledge the failures of the past and ensure they are not repeated," the report, released on Friday, said.

It said all children have the right to a safe and happy childhood.

"We must not fail them."

Institutional abuse – not ‘rotten apples’

The commission was contacted by more than 15,000 survivors who detailed claims of child abuse involving churches, orphanages, sporting clubs, youth groups and schools, often dating back decades.

It heard horrific stories during often confronting and emotionally exhausting public and private hearings.

In total, more than 4,000 institutions were accused of abuse, with many of them Catholic-managed facilities.

More than 15,000 survivors of child abuse contacted the commission. Source: AAP

"Tens of thousands of children have been sexually abused in many Australian institutions. We will never know the true number," the final report said, making hundreds of recommendations to improve children's safety and make it harder for paedophiles to operate unpunished.

"Whatever the number, it is a national tragedy, perpetrated over generations within many of our most trusted institutions."

It said abuse occurred in almost every place where children resided or attended for educational, recreational, sporting, religious or cultural activities.

And it was not a case of a few "rotten apples".

The commission said there was no simple explanation for why child sexual abuse had occurred in a multitude of institutions.

"It is remarkable that in so many cases the perpetrator of abuse was a member of an organisation that professed to care for children.

"Just as remarkable was the failure of the leaders of that institution to respond with compassion to the survivor."

Victims of abuse were failed by institutions and the true number will never be known, the royal commission found. Source: AAP/Stock

The commission wants the federal government to oversee the development and implementation of a national strategy to prevent future abuse, including a federal minister for children's issues, and a new framework for child safety.

"Australian society must never go back to a state of denial about the nature, cause and impact of child sexual abuse in institutional contexts."

The report contains a raft of recommendations aimed at churches, warning it would be a mistake to regard child sexual abuse as a historical problem.

The commission said there had been progress in some religious institutions over the past two decades.

The commission found the abuse was institutional and not the result of 'bad apples'. Source: AAP/Stock

"Others remained reluctant to accept the need for significant internal changes."

The commission has given the federal, state and territory governments six months to respond to its recommendations and wants institutions to report on how they have implemented its reforms in a year's time.

Report will not ‘sit on a shelf’

Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher has promised the multi-volume final report from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which was released on Friday, would not "sit on a shelf".

"I will study the findings and recommendations carefully, and then provide a detailed response as we discern, with the rest of the community, the best way forward," he said in a statement on Friday.

Among the recommendations made in the entire volume directed to the Catholic Church was that voluntary celibacy should be considered and much of the church management structure should be reviewed and made transparent.

Catholic archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher. Source: AAP

Archbishop Fisher said he stood ready to address systemic issues behind the abuse.

Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe echoed Archbishop Fisher's sentiments, committing to a compassionate and quick response to the abuse.

"There will be no easy dismissal of people's stories, no sweeping of things under the carpet, no cover-ups," he said in a statement.

"We will listen and we will act."