The Catholic Church has announced it will sign up to the $3.8 billion compensation scheme for victims of institutional child sex abuse.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) and Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) confirmed on Wednesday the church will enter the scheme when it becomes possible under national legislation.
“We support the Royal Commission’s recommendation for a national redress scheme, administered by the commonwealth, and we are keen to participate in it," a letter to Social Services Minister Dan Tehan said.
“We recognise that redress will not take away a survivor’s pain, but hope that it can provide some practical assistance in the journey towards recovery from abuse.
“Once the scheme is initiated, we are committed to providing redress to survivors who were abused within the Catholic Church.
“Given the diverse structure of the Catholic Church, Catholic officials have been working with the commonwealth government to enable church authorities to work effectively with the independent National Redress Scheme Operator.
“We are grateful for the commonwealth’s support in helping create the best possible solution to simplify the process for survivors who will seek redress from a Catholic institution."
ACBC president Archbishop Mark Coleridge said the Catholic Church had called for the national redress scheme since 2013.
CRA president Sister Ruth Durick said it is recognised redress will not eliminate a survivor's pain but hopes it can offer practical assistance in the journey towards recovery from abuse.
"We are committed to providing redress to survivors who were abused within the Catholic Church," she said.
Archbishop Coleridge said it will establish an agency to allow its dioceses and congregations to work with the Scheme Operator.
Western Australia remains the final state to sign up to the scheme and could be on board within weeks.
Legislation to enable the $3.8 billion opt-in scheme passed federal parliament's lower house on Tuesday night.
Negotiations with Western Australia could be finalised within six to eight weeks, the state's Attorney-General John Quigley said.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull welcomed the Church's announcement, calling it a "significant development".
"The Catholic Church will be the first non-government institution to opt in to the National Redress Scheme," his office said in a statement.
"If all states and institutions across Australia opt in, the scheme could provide redress to around 60,000 people.
"The Royal Commission put the horrific experiences of survivors on the public record and now the Redress Scheme will officially acknowledge them and continue the process of healing."
The news comes after Archbishop Philip Wilson was convicted for covering up child sex crimes during the 1970s.
Adelaide's Vicar General Philip Marshall has taken charge of the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide, as Archbishop Wilson stood aside.
