31 May 2013

Catholic Church names clergy who abused children

10:11 pm on 31 May 2013

The Catholic Church in Australia has released the names of 29 Melbourne priests who it acknowledges are guilty of sexually abusing children.

Last week the Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart, told Victoria's child abuse inquiry the church had paid compensation to the victims of 59 priests who had worked in the archdiocese.

The Church has now revealed the names of 29 of those priests, the ABC reports.

However, it says it will not name the remaining 30 because several were dead when allegations were made and they did not have a chance to respond.

The Church is also withholding the names of priests who were not charged after police investigations.