What would Jesus say?

MODERATOR: Did you really say that?

JESUS: Yes, I am on the record in Matthew, Mark and Luke in the New Jerusalem Bible which is the official Vatican version of the Bible.

MODERATOR: Child abuse can be emotional, physical or sexual and there have always been abusers of children. What else did you tell them?

JESUS: I said: It's a great pity for the world that there should be such causes of kids falling. Causes of falling indeed there must be, but pity help anyone who provides them!

MODERATOR: Did you prescribe any preventative measures?

JESUS: Certainly. I was most animated on the topic. I said: If your hand or your foot should be your downfall, cut it off and throw it away: it is better for you to enter into life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.

MODERATOR: What about those, like your bishops, in positions of responsibility for the protection of children? What about those who just turned a blind eye to the problem?

JESUS: I told them the following: And if your eye should be your downfall, tear it out and throw it away: it is better for you to enter into life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into the hell of fire.

MODERATOR: What about consequences from Heaven? Are those who have abused children likely to go undetected? Are those who have failed to protect children in their care likely to get away with it?

JESUS: Well, what do you think? I went on to say: See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in Heaven.

MODERATOR: Archbishop over to you. Recently you have had to face these issues in your own archdiocese. You have just now submitted a damning report you call Facing The Truth to the parliamentary enquiry where you admit for the first time that there are not merely a few cases of child abuse but hundreds–maybe as many as 620 children who have been abused.

This report has exposed the organized and institutional abuse of many children. You have heard what your founder has had to say, Archbishop, so what can you now report to Jesus that you will do about your Melbourne Response.

ARCHBISHOP: I will wait to see what the Victorian Government says and then I'll have further discussions with my legal advisers.

MODERATOR: Jesus, are you satisfied with this response?

JESUS: What do you think?