Names blocked to authorities abroad

CATHOLIC Church authorities abroad, concerned that abusers uncovered by the Child Abuse Commission may also have worked in their countries, will not be able to obtain the true identities of the individuals protected by pseudonyms in the commission’s report.

Head of the Church in Australia, Cardinal George Pell, told media there yesterday he had representatives studying the report and said that the commission would be contacted to try to establish whether there were any connections with Australian dioceses or institutions.

Many Catholic religious orders have a presence in both Ireland and Australia and it was not uncommon for members to move, or be moved, between countries as part of their work or to avoid scandal where abuse allegations had been made.