Sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in Australia

Abstract

For many years Australia’s Catholic Church resisted being held to account for the sexual abuse of children within its institutions. Residential institutions, in particular, where also the site of widespread cruelty and neglect. But persistent survivor truth-telling and investigative journalism eventually led to a national inquiry (2013-17) in the form of a Royal Commission, which was tasked with investigating child sexual abuse in all institutional settings across Australia, including religious institutions. This case study looks at the build-up to the commission and the impact it had after publishing its findings and recommendations.