Responses to Royal Commission final report

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Child Sexual Abuse presented its final report, comprising 17 volumes, to the Governor General today.
Responses of Catholic Church leaders, including Adelaide Vicar General Fr Philip Marshall, are provided below.
Other information can be found at:
www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au
15 Dec 2017
Statement from Vicar General Fr Philip Marshall

The Royal Commission findings released on Friday demonstrate very clearly that over many decades the institutional responses to child sexual abuse have, for the most part, been abysmal. Throughout the five years of the Royal Commission we have heard stories of extraordinary courage and resilience that have inspired us. The survivors of abuse have had to relive their own experiences and listen to the stories of so many others. We have heard shocking accounts of abuse, and testimonies of inadequate responses. It is only through our listening to the personal stories of survivors that we have come to understand what so many other children have been through. Listening to those stories is heartbreaking. They are stories of betrayed trust, of hopelessness about one's value and future, and despair at the disbelief or indifferent response of those with responsibility in the Church and other institutions.
Statement from Vicar General Fr Philip Marshall.pdf
Statement of Catholic Bishops and Religious leaders
Australian Catholic Bishops Commission | Catholic Religious Australia

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has today released its final report, which includes a large number of recommendations, many of which will have a significant impact on the way the Catholic Church operates in Australia.
President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Denis Hart, said the release of the final report is the culmination of almost five years of intense examination of the way in which many different institutions, including the Catholic Church, have historically failed children.
ACBC CRA Statement Royal Commission Final Report.pdf
Statement from Most Rev. Anthony Fisher OP
Archbishop of Sydney

First and foremost, I want to express my respect for the survivors of child sexual abuse by Church personnel, who have lived with the consequences of abuse for a lifetime and will continue to do so.
Many told their stories with great courage, even at great personal cost, revisiting traumatic experiences. I say again how sorry I am that you were hurt in this way by people you should have been able to trust.
RC statement Archbishop Anthony Fisher.pdf
Statement from National Council of Priests of Australia (NCP)

The National Council of Priests of Australia applauds the work of the Royal Commission in its endeavours to eliminate the scourge of child sexual abuse which has been a blight on our society, our welfare and our religious institutions. The N.C.P. welcomes the release of the report and the efforts to implement the recommendations made by the Commission. As an organisation representing many priests throughout Australia, we are angry and ashamed of the criminal activity engaged in by some of our fellow priests.
NCP statement_Royal Commission Report.pdf