The presidents of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Catholic Religious Australia have welcomed Pope Francis’ decision to remove the application of the pontifical secret in all cases of child sexual abuse, noting that its existence hasn’t stopped Catholic leaders from reporting abuse to civil authorities in Australia.

Catholic leaders have submitted a report to the National Office for Child Safety outlining the Church’s ongoing response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans), which has worked to combat slavery for the past 16 years, has collaborated with Flinders University in South Australia to publish a research report which urges the South Australian Government to launch an inquiry into slavery and slavery-like practices in the state.

Seven leaders from the Catholic community in Australia formed a delegation with the Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum (CAPSA) to travel to Papua New Guinea (PNG) recently, to see firsthand the situation of people seeking asylum/refugee status and understand their experience, so that when they returned to Australia, they could advocate for them further.

Seven representatives from the Catholic community in Australia have returned from a visit to Papua New Guinea to listen, pray and express solidarity with people seeking asylum and refugees and gain a better understanding of the human experience and complexities of the situation.