The archbishop of Sydney Australia, Cardinal George Pell, announced his support for a national inquiry into sexual abuse cases.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) CARDINAL GEORGE PELL SAYING:<br/> <br />"we acknowledge, with shame, the extent of the problem and I want to assure you that we have been serious in attempting to eradicate it and deal with it."<br/> <br />Pell warned priests against hearing confessions of suspected abusers.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE)(English) CARDINAL GEORGE PELL SAYING:<br/> <br />"If the priest knows beforehand about such a situation, the priest should refuse to hear the confession, that would be my advice. I would never hear the confession of a priest who was suspected of such a thing."<br/> <br />Prime Minister Julia Gillard annoucned Monday a Royal Commission into how institutions like churches and government bodies have dealth with child sex abuse claims.<br/> <br />The inquiry follows reports that the Catholic church covered up sex abuse allegations and investigations over several decades in Victoria and New South Wales states.<br/> <br />The Catholic church is Australia's largest, with 5.4 million followers, representing about one in four Australians.<br/> <br />Pope Benedict XVI apologized publicly for sexual abuse cases in the Catholic church in Australia during a visit there in 2008.
