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.

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.

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.