Catholic Church told to overhaul celibacy rules

Unpublished
Canberra - A five-year inquiry into sexual abuse in Australia has called on the Catholic Church to overhaul its celibacy rules. In its final report comprising more than 400 recommendations, the inquiry said institutions had seriously failed to protect children.  The royal commission, Australia's highest form of public inquiry, heard more than 8,000 testimonies from victims of abuse. The accusations covered churches, schools and sports clubs over decades. "Tens of thousands of children have been sexually abused in many Australian institutions. We will never know the true number," the report said. "It is not a case of a few 'rotten apples'. Society's major institutions have seriously failed." Since 2013, the royal commission has referred more than 2,500 allegations to authorities. The final report, released on Friday, added 189 recommendations to 220 that had already been made public. The proposals will now be considered by legislators. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said "a national tragedy" had been exposed.(FA)

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