A victims' support group is calling on the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic diocese to be more transparent when it comes to allegations of clergy child sex abuse. Members of the group, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, have met Bishop Michael Malone.
They have urged him to approach Cardinal George Pell and ask him to speak to victims before he leaves for the Vatican shortly.
Group member Mark Fabbro says it is time for the church to come clean.
"Also we put a request in for some statistics relating to the number of allegations that have been received by the diocese," he said.
"We've got our fingers crossed that eventually the diocese will understand that the transparency and a bit of accountability is in their interest."
SIC: ABC-AUS