Bishop says don't mistake individuals for Church as a whole

A local bishop has defended the Catholic Church in relation to child sexual abuse, saying individuals should not be mistaken for a whole organisation.

Bishop Greg O'Kelly from the Port Pirie diocese says he welcomes the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

However, in a letter to parishioners, he says it was not the Catholic Church that committed or shielded any crimes but individuals within the church.

He says claims that people were told not to report crimes are untrue and that members of the church encourage anyone to tell the police if they have been abused.

Submissions on the royal commission's terms of reference are now closed and are likely to be announced by Christmas.

Bishop O'Kelly says he hopes the church will learn from the royal commission and reform as needed.