Royal Commission

Yesterday, Prime Minister Gillard announced a Royal Commission into both child abuse and also the covering up of that abuse. A primary focus of the Commission will be the Catholic Church, but it will have the power to investigate more broadly so that all church and not-for-profit organisations can be included.

Since the announcement was made, what's really encouraged and impressed me is the uniform welcome that the Commission has been getting from church workers. Pretty much everyone thinks this is a good thing. Followers of Jesus are rightly disgusted by child abuse and if it's happened (or is happening) in his church, it's doubly disgraceful. If it's been covered up (or is being covered up) by his church, that's completely reprehensible.

The church should be safe and transparent. If the Commission brings justice to those who have suffered where the church has failed and helps to set a better culture for the future, it will be an excellent thing.

An on-line poll from today's article in The Age shows overwhelmingly

that the majority of readers also feel positive about the Royal Commission.