Australia's Sisters of St Joseph Wednesday played down suggestions their founder, saint-to-be Mary MacKillop, should be named the patron saint of abused children for exposing a paedophile priest.MacKillop, who will become Australia's first saint at a Vatican canonisation on Sunday, was ex-communicated in 1871 for "insubordination" after a series of rows with the church including reporting a priest who molested a child.
Senior Sister Brigette Sipa said exposing abuse was just one important act by MacKillop, who is being canonised for her pioneering work educating poor children and caring for the needy.
"She did report the priest, but that wouldn't have been the main reason for her ex-communication, there were lots of reasons," Sipa told AFP at MacKillop Place, home to the saint-in-waiting's tomb.
The paedophilia revelations, unveiled in a recent ABC documentary, have sparked calls by Australia's Broken Rites group for MacKillop to be made the patron saint of abused children to send a strong message of support.
The proposal comes as the Catholic church battles a widespread scandal over child abuse in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Britain and the United States, including allegations priests covered for paedophiles.
Sipa agreed that child sex abuse was "absolutely" a topical issue for the church but said the Sisters hadn't considered whether MacKillop should be made champion of the cause.
"Not specifically, we haven't stopped and thought about that," Sipa said.
"But certainly, well, she was always a saint who was conscious of whoever was in need... children and to women who were abused, even in her day."
Pope Benedict XVI expressed shame at the "unspeakable crimes" committed by paedophile priests and said they had brought "shame and humiliation" on the Church and caused "immense suffering", in a September visit to Britain.
He also met with five victims of sexual abuse and told them of his "shame" and "deep sorrow".
MacKillop's canonisation is gaining enormous interest in Australia, where thousands will gather at her Sydney tomb and in the tiny town of Penola, where she built her first school.
She died in Sydney in 1909 and since then has been credited with two "miracles" -- curing two terminally ill women in 1961 and 1993 who prayed to the late nun.
SIC: AFP/AUS