Day 4 (day 245) transcript.
childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/downloadfile.ashx?guid=67422271-cee0-41a0-9c08-384d84df167c&type=transcriptpdf&filename=Transcript-(Day-245)&fileextension=pdf
It begins:
“1 MS FURNESS: Thank you, your Honour. There will be four
2 panelists who will be sworn in shortly, your Honour.
3 I will provide a short introduction to the panel today,
4 which is Church discipline, secrecy and confession. My
5 friend will be taking the witnesses.
6
7 The next part of the hearing will focus on the canon
8 law processes for investigating and disciplining priests
9 and religious.
10
11 The operation of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and
12 issues concerning the initial and ongoing formation of
13 priests and religious will then be the subject of evidence.
14
15 Evidence this morning will be given by
16 Dr Rodger Austin, a canon lawyer, who prepared a report on
17 canon law on behalf of the Truth, Justice and Healing
18 Council; Father Thomas Doyle, whom we have heard from
19 earlier, a canon lawyer from the United States;
20 Sister Moya Hanlen, a canon lawyer from Sydney, who gave
21 evidence in the Nestor public hearing; and
22 Mr Kieran Tapsell, an Australian civil lawyer, who has
23 written on the subject of canon law…”
And then later…
“After this panel, the Royal Commission will hear
33 evidence from a panel of witnesses about the operation of
34 the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the context of child
35 sexual abuse in the Church.
36
37 Evidence will be given by Bishop Terence Curtin, the
38 Chair of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
39 Commission for Doctrine and Morals; Father Frank
40 O’Loughlin, a sacramental theologian; Father Lawrence
41 McNamara, a moral theologian; Father Ian Waters, a canon
42 lawyer; Father Joe Grayland, a New Zealand liturgical
43 theologian; and Father Frank Brennan, a Jesuit priest,
44 former law professor and human rights advocate, who is now
45 the Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Social Services
46 Australia…”
I hope this gives insight into the places this inquiry is delving, and the depth.
