This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/05/vatican-has-refused-to-reveal-all-royal-commission-head-declares

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Vatican has refused to reveal all, royal commission head declares Vatican has refused to reveal all, royal commission head declares
(35 minutes later)
The Vatican has told the child sex abuse royal commission that it will not hand over all information about members of its clergy who abused children in Australia.The Vatican has told the child sex abuse royal commission that it will not hand over all information about members of its clergy who abused children in Australia.
The commission chairman, Justice Peter McClellan, on Saturday will address a 14th anniversary gathering of one of the main victims' support groups. The commission chairman, Justice Peter McClellan, Saturday addressed a 14th anniversary gathering of one of the main victims' support groups.
McClellan will tell Care Leavers Australia Network (Clan) the Holy See has provided two sets of documents and says it may provide others where copies are not available in Australia. McClellan told Care Leavers Australia Network (Clan) that the Holy See had provided two sets of documents and had said it may provide others where copies are not available in Australia.
But it has told the commission "that requests for all information regarding every case – which include requests for documents reflecting internal ‘deliberations' – are not appropriate." But it had told the commission "that requests for all information regarding every case – which include requests for documents reflecting internal ‘deliberations' – are not appropriate."
It said the Holy See maintained the confidentiality of internal deliberations related to its judicial and administrative proceedings.It said the Holy See maintained the confidentiality of internal deliberations related to its judicial and administrative proceedings.
The reason was it "depends upon deliberative confidentiality to ensure the integrity and efficacy of its judicial and administrative processes".The reason was it "depends upon deliberative confidentiality to ensure the integrity and efficacy of its judicial and administrative processes".
The Vatican was asked by the UN Committee for the Protection of Children to open its books to jurisdictions across the world but has not responded as yet.The Vatican was asked by the UN Committee for the Protection of Children to open its books to jurisdictions across the world but has not responded as yet.
McClellan in his address will say recent commentary on the commission's work was ill-informed on its practices and impacts. McClellan in his address said recent commentary on the commission's work was ill-informed on its practices and impacts.
This may be a reference to concerns raised by a Catholic lawyer, Frank Brennan, who told AAP on Thursday that the commission was paralysing agencies trying to deal with child sexual abuse.This may be a reference to concerns raised by a Catholic lawyer, Frank Brennan, who told AAP on Thursday that the commission was paralysing agencies trying to deal with child sexual abuse.
Father Brennan, professor of law at the Australian Catholic University, maintained that if the commission ran for another three and a half years institutions like the Catholic church and state-based agencies would be left in limbo, unable to implement change until the commission reported.Father Brennan, professor of law at the Australian Catholic University, maintained that if the commission ran for another three and a half years institutions like the Catholic church and state-based agencies would be left in limbo, unable to implement change until the commission reported.
"There has been some discussion recently about the manner in which the royal commission is undertaking its task. There are clearly some misconceptions," McClellan said."There has been some discussion recently about the manner in which the royal commission is undertaking its task. There are clearly some misconceptions," McClellan said.
"The commissioners welcome public discussion of our work. But we do ask that those who engage in that discussion first read the speeches I have made and consider the reports we have released. It is only informed discussion that will help us in our work.""The commissioners welcome public discussion of our work. But we do ask that those who engage in that discussion first read the speeches I have made and consider the reports we have released. It is only informed discussion that will help us in our work."
He pointed out that they had heard from government agency heads as well as church leaders.He pointed out that they had heard from government agency heads as well as church leaders.
McClellan will also tell Clan of the reforms already taking places in church, state and private institutions on foot of the commission’s work. McClellan also told Clan of the reforms already taking places in church, state and private institutions on foot of the commission’s work.
Clan has called for a redress scheme earlier rather than sooner and McClellan is expected to say that the commission's report on this will be at the end of next year.Clan has called for a redress scheme earlier rather than sooner and McClellan is expected to say that the commission's report on this will be at the end of next year.