Australian bishop at center of abuse investigation dies at 85
April 04, 2016
A retired Australian bishop who was at the center of an investigation into the handling of sex-abuse complaints has died after a long battle with cancer, at the age of 85.
Bishop Ronald Mulkearns, who led the Ballarat diocese from 1971 to 1997, died on April 4. He had been asked to make a new appearance before a royal commission investigating sex-abuse complaints, despite his declining health, after Cardinal George Pell told the commission that Bishop Mulkearns' failure to respond to abuse reports had been "grave and inexplicable."
A representative of the Australian bishops' conference said that a "very humble low-key funeral Mass" for Bishop Mulkearns would be arranged in light of the circumstances.
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Further information:
- Retired Ballarat Bishop Ronald Mulkearns, who appeared at child sex abuse inquiry, dies (ABC)
- Australian abuse commission will recall elderly bishop for questioning (CWN, 3/2)
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