Sexual Abuse,a Royal Commission,and the Australian Church

Abstract

The sexual abuse crisis and subsequent Royal Commission investigation raised important ecclesiological and ecclesial issues for the Australian Catholic Church. This article provides background to the work of the Commission and explores four issues: the seal of the confessional; the notion of ontological change in ordination; the place of women in the church; and the authority of bishops. While no direct theological resolution of these is possible, these issues have been raised with pressing urgency.