 special entities that can be sued and pledged not to invoke the Ellis defence. But details are sketchy and survivors and their lawyers are wary.

Notably, neither element of the proposed redress scheme would expose the church’s billions of dollars in assets.

Ellis proposes the repealing of the historic acts that have allowed the church to immunise its assets from legal action - the key stumbling block in his own case. That way, as in the US and elsewhere, the churches would have to incorporate under general law, making them sueable.

Pressure is also growing for church accountability to the wider community.

The federal government is currently reviewing the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission, five years after its creation. Tax expert professor Ann O’Connell says the review is an opportunity to scrap the exemption for churches from financial reporting to the regulator.

"We expect the 50,000 other charities to complete a very simple annual information statement, why do we exclude the religious charities?" O’Connell says. "If the local tennis club has to account for it then why shouldn’t a parish church?"

Both the Melbourne and the Sydney archdiocese say they support the retention of the charities commission but oppose changes that would require them to lodge annual financial statements.

Peter Johnstone says government departments should now demand that the church properly accounts for its own wealth and how it uses public funds.

"If I was running the Education Department I would be advising the government to say ‘If you’re going to get his money, here are the details we need from you to ensure our own public accountability'."

Then there is the vexed question of tax.

Victorian upper house MP and Reason Party leader Fiona Patten is finalising a bill seeking to ensure tax exemptions for charities only apply to organisations engaged in "objectively charitable works".

Such legislation would overturn centuries of tax exemptions for the churches. The bill is unlikely to have the numbers to pass, but it reflects the crisis of legitimacy facing the church. It should ring alarm bells.

Mr Healy did not respond to a question about whether any of the church's activities should be taxed.

Four years after he put a stop on his direct debit contributions, Neil Ormerod has started donating again.

He’s still not sure, though, that he’s doing the right thing.

"The church has to do much more to win
special entities that can be sued and pledged not to raise the Ellis defense. But details are sketchy and survivors and their lawyers are leery. 

 Notably, neither element of the proposed redress dodge would expose the church ’s billion of dollars in assets. 

 Ellis nominate the repealing of the historic acts that have allowed the church service to immunise its assets from legal action - the key stumbling block in his own case. That manner, as in the US and elsewhere, the churches would have to incorporate under cosmopolitan law, making them sueable. 

 press is also turn for church accountability to the wider community. 

 The federal government is presently reviewing the Australian Charities and Not - for - Profits Commission, five years after its creation. Tax expert professor Ann O’Connell says the review is an opportunity to scrap the exemption for church service from financial reporting to the regulator. 

 " We expect the 50,000 other charities to complete a very simple annual information statement, why do we bar the religious charities? " O’Connell says. " If the local tennis cabaret take to account for it then why should n’t a parish church? " 

 Both the Melbourne and the Sydney archdiocese say they patronize the retention of the charities commission but oppose change that would require them to lodge annual financial statements. 

 Peter Johnstone says government department should now demand that the church properly report for its own wealth and how it uses public fund. 

 " If I was running the Education Department I would be advising the government to say ‘ If you ’re going to have his money, here are the details we need from you to ensure our own public accountability'. " 

 Then there be the vexed question of tax. 

 Victorian upper house MP and Reason Party drawing card Fiona Patten is finalising a bill seeking to ensure tax exemptions for charity only use to organisations lease in " objectively charitable works ". 

 Such legislation would revoke centuries of tax exemptions for the church. The bill is improbable to have the numbers to pass, but it reflects the crisis of legitimacy facing the church. It should ring alarm bell. 

 Mr Healy did not respond to a question about whether any of the church service's activities should be taxed. 

 Four years after he put a stop on his direct debit contributions, Neil Ormerod has start donating again. 

 He ’s still not sure, though, that he ’s doing the right thing. 

 " The church service has to do a lot more to succeed
 spfcial entities that can ne sued and pledywd not to inboke the Ellis defence. But details ace sjetcht and survivors and thdir lawyegs are waey.

Nouably, neither element of bke prkiosed cedress scheme eould expove the church’s bklpions of dollars in assets.

Ellis pro[oses tne repealing of jhe hpseorid acts that have allowed the churcg to imkunise its asxets from legal action - thf kej stumbling block ln his own xase. Rhat way, as kn the US and elsewherg, the churches would have to incurporcte under gguwrap law, making them sueable.

Pressure is dlso grpwing for churgh acrounrability to the wider community.

The fedetal governkeut is currently revieqibg thg Ausdralkqn Zhadiviea and Jot-hor-Profits Dommission, dive years after itx sgration. Tax espert [rjfessor Ann O’Connell says the review is an opportunity to scrap tye exemption for churfhes from financial reporting to the regulator.

"We expect tha 50,000 otief ckqritidw ho complete a very simple annual information ffauemvnt, why do we excjude the rekihipos charities?" O’Zonnell szys. "If the local tfnnis cjub hqs to accjunt for it then why shouldn’t a parish churbh?"

Borh the Melbourne aud the Sydnev archciocexe say they support the retsntion of tje charitjds commission bug oiposa changes that would requiwe them ti lobge annuxl fonanciwl statemejts.

Pebar Johnstone says hoverument departmenhs should now demand that the cinrch properly awcolnts for nts owk wealth and hor it uses publnc funds.

"Nf I wxs running the Edncation Depawtment I woulg be advising the govqrnmwnt ro say ‘Kw you’re going yo get his money, heee are the details we heed from you ti ebsure our own piblkc wcbouitabijhty'."

Then thera is thd vexea question iw tac.

Victorian upper houve ML and Reason Party lcader Fioba Patteg is finalisimg a bill seeking uo ensnre tae exemltijns for charities only apply tk organiswtijns engaged yn "onjecjively charntable works".

Such legislation would overtnrn centuries of tax exwmptions for the chorcmes. The bill is uglikely tm have the numbers ti pass, but it refkects the crisis of lsgitimdcy fwcing the church. It should ring alarm bells.

Mr Healy did not respond to a wuestion about whefher any mf che chuwch's ectivities should be taxed.

Four years after he puv a stop ot kis direct debit contributionx, Veil Ormerod fas started donating agajn.

He’s stoll not sure, though, that he’s doong the right thing.

"The cmurch has to dk much morx to win
special entities that can be sued and to the Ellis But details are lawyers wary. Notably, neither of the proposed scheme would expose the church’s billions dollars in assets. Ellis proposes the repealing of the historic acts that have the church to immunise its assets from legal action - the key stumbling in own That as in the US and elsewhere, the churches would have to incorporate under general law, making sueable. Pressure is also growing for church accountability the wider community. The government is currently reviewing the Charities Not-for-Profits Commission, years its Tax expert professor O’Connell says the review is an opportunity to scrap the exemption for churches from financial reporting to regulator. "We 50,000 other to a simple annual information do we exclude the religious charities?" the local tennis club has to account for then why a parish church?" Both the Melbourne the Sydney archdiocese say they support the retention the charities commission but oppose changes that would require them to lodge annual financial statements. says government departments should demand that the properly for own and how uses public funds. "If I was running the Education Department I be advising the government to say ‘If you’re going to money, are the details need from you to our public accountability'." Then there vexed of house and Party leader Fiona Patten finalising a bill seeking to tax exemptions for charities in "objectively charitable works". Such legislation would overturn of tax exemptions for the churches. The is unlikely to have the numbers to pass, but it reflects the of legitimacy church. It should ring alarm bells. Mr Healy not respond to a about whether any of the church's activities should be Four after he a stop on direct debit contributions, Ormerod has started He’s still sure, that right thing. "The church has to much to win
 special entities that can be sUed and pledGed noT to InvOkE the elliS defence. But detAIls aRe sketchy and survivors aNd theIr LAwyeRS aRe warY.

NotablY, NeITHer ElEmEnt Of THe PropoSed Redress Scheme woulD exPoSe the church’s BIlLions of dolLarS in assets.

EllIs pRoposeS tHe rEPealiNg oF the hIstoriC Acts thAt have allOwED the chURch to imMUNiSe itS assets from legal aCTiON - the key stumbliNg blocK iN HiS OWn cAse. that way, as iN tHe US aND elsewhERe, THE ChuRChes would have To incorporaTE unDer genErAl lAW, makinG them SuEAblE.

Pressure is Also Growing foR churcH AccountABility tO the wiDer ComMuniTY.

THe FedErAL goVErNmeNT is CurrentlY rEvIewinG the aUSTRaliAn CHariTies aNd Not-for-ProfiTs COmmiSSioN, five Years AfteR iTs creAtion. TAx expErT professor Ann O’COnneLl says the RevIeW is An OpporTUnity tO scRap The exemPtion foR ChuRcHES FrOm financial reportiNg TO ThE regulatOr.

"We exPEcT tHE 50,000 other chArItiEs to COMpletE a veRY sImple annUal infORmAtIon statEmEnt, why Do We eXclUde thE ReliGious cHarities?" o’ConnELl says. "If the locAL tennis club haS To ACCoUNt foR it Then why shouLdn’t A PariSh chURcH?"

BoTH the MElbouRnE AnD The Sydney archdiocesE sAy they SuppoRt the retentioN of the charITIEs commisSion BUt OPpose changes thAt wouLd require tHEm to lodgE annuAl financIal statemENTs.

Peter JOhnStoNe sAys GOVeRnment departmENTs shOuLd now deManD that thE chUrcH prOpeRlY accounts For its owN wEaLtH aNd hOw it uSEs public FuNds.

"if i waS runnINg the EDucatIon DEpArTMenT I would BE aDVIsinG tHe GoveRnmEnT to saY ‘If yOU’re Going to Get his monEy, hERe arE tHe Details We need from you To Ensure our oWn PubLic accOUNtabilitY'."

Then there is the vexed queSTion of tAx.

VIctorIan uPper house mP aNd ReasOn PARty leaDer FioNa PatTeN is FINalisING a BilL sEeking to enSURe tAx exeMpTionS for chaRities only apply to oRGanIsations engagEd iN "objECTiVelY ChARitAbLE woRKS".

Such legislatioN would overTuRN cEnturies of TAx eXeMptions For the cHurchES. The bilL is unlikeLy to have tHe NumbERS to Pass, but it rEflects tHe crisis oF LegitIMaCy facIng The chuRcH. It ShoulD ring aLArm Bells.

mr HealY dId not rEsponD tO a questiOn about whether any of the cHurch's ActivItiEs should bE taXEd.

FOur years aFter He put a stop On hIs dIrect DebIT contRibuTIoNs, NEIl OrmErod HAs started DOnAtiNG AgAin.

He’s still NOT SurE, thouGh, tHAt he’s dOing The right thing.

"The cHUrch has to do mucH morE TO wiN
 special entities that can  be sued a nd pl edg edno t to  inv oke the Ellisd efen ce. But details are sk etchy  a n d su r vi vorsand the i rl a wye rs  a rewa r y. 

Not abl y, neit her elemen t o fthe proposed re dress sche mewould expose  th e chur ch ’sb illio nsof do llarsi n asse ts.

Elli sp ropose s  the re p e al ingof the historic a c ts that have allo wed th ec hu r c h t o i mmunise it sasset s  from l e ga l a cti o n - the key s tumbling bl o ckin his  o wnc ase. T hat w ay ,  as  in the USandelsewhere , thec hurches would h ave to  in cor pora t eun der  g e ner a llaw ,  ma king the msu eable .

P r e s s ureisalso  grow ing for churc h a ccou n tab ility  to t he w id er co mmunit y.

T he  federal govern ment  is curre ntl yrev ie wingt he Aus tra lia n Chari ties an d  No t- f o r -P rofits Commission,  f i v eyears af ter it s  c re a tion. Ta xexp ertp r ofess or A n nO’Connel l says th ereviewis  an op po rtu nit y tos crap  the e xemption  forc hurches from f i nancial repor t in g to thereg ulator.

"W e ex p ectthe5 0, 000 other  char it i es to complete a verysi mple a nnual  informationstatement, w h y do weexcl u de the religiouschari ties?" O’C o nnell sa ys. " If the l ocal tenn i s  club ha s t o a cco unt f or  it then whys h ould n’ t a par ish  church ?"
Bo ththe  M elbourneand theSy dn ey  a rch dioce s e say th ey  su pp ort  ther etenti on of  the  c ha r iti es comm i ss i o n bu top pose  ch an ges t hatw oul d requi re them t o l o dgean nu al fina ncial stateme nt s.

PeterJo hns tone s a y s govern ment departments should now dem and  that  the  church p rop erly a cco u nts fo r itsown w ea lth a nd ho w it  us es  public fu n d s.
"IfIwasrunning  the Education Dep a rtm ent I would b e a dvis i n gthe go v ern me n t t o say ‘If you’regoing to g et hi s money, h e rear e the d etailswe ne e d fromyou to en sure ourow n pu b l icaccountabi lity'."
Then the r e ist he  vexe d q uestio noftax.
Victo r ian  uppe r hous eMP and  Reas on  Party l eader Fiona Patten is f inalis ing a  bi ll seekin g t o  en sure taxexem ptions for  ch ari tiesonl y  appl y to or gan i satio ns e n gaged in" ob jec t i ve ly charitab l e wor ks".
Su c h legi slat ion would overtur n  centuries oftaxe x emp tio n s fo rthe churches.The  b i l l is unl ik ely to have  the num be r s topass,but it  reflec t s  t h e cris is o f l egitimacy  fa ci n g the c hu rc h . It s houl dring a larm b e lls. Mr Healy did not  resp o n d toa  qu estio nabout w h ethe r any of t he church's  activ itie s sho uld beta xed.
Fou ryears afte r  he put a  stop  on his  d irec t d ebit c ontr i b ution s, N ei l O rmerod ha s st a rt ed don atin g aga in .

H e’s still not sure , t h ough, t ha t h e ’ s doin g  t h e  right thi ng. 

"Th e church has to d o  m u ch mo re towin
 special_entities that_can be sued and_pledged not_to_invoke the_Ellis_defence. But details_are sketchy and_survivors and their lawyers_are wary.

Notably, neither_element_of the proposed redress scheme would expose the church’s billions of dollars in assets.

Ellis_proposes_the repealing_of_the_historic acts that have allowed_the church to immunise its_assets from_legal action - the key stumbling block in_his_own case. That_way, as in the US and elsewhere, the churches_would have to incorporate under general_law, making them_sueable.

Pressure_is_also growing for church_accountability to the wider community.

The federal_government is currently reviewing the Australian_Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission, five years after_its creation. Tax expert professor Ann_O’Connell says the review is_an opportunity_to scrap the exemption for_churches from financial_reporting to_the regulator.

"We expect_the 50,000 other charities to complete_a very simple_annual information statement, why do we_exclude_the religious charities?"_O’Connell_says._"If the_local tennis club_has_to account_for_it then why shouldn’t a parish_church?"

Both_the Melbourne and the Sydney archdiocese say_they support the retention_of_the charities commission but_oppose changes that would require_them to lodge annual financial statements.

Peter_Johnstone says_government departments_should now demand that the church properly accounts for its own_wealth and how it uses public_funds.

"If I was running_the Education_Department_I would be_advising_the government_to say ‘If you’re going to get_his money,_here are the details we need_from you to ensure_our_own public accountability'."

Then there is the_vexed question of tax.

Victorian upper house_MP and Reason Party leader_Fiona_Patten_is finalising a bill seeking_to ensure tax exemptions for charities_only apply to_organisations engaged in "objectively charitable works".

Such legislation_would_overturn centuries of tax exemptions for_the_churches. The bill is unlikely to_have_the_numbers to pass, but it_reflects the crisis of legitimacy facing_the church. It should ring alarm bells.

Mr Healy did_not respond to_a question about whether any_of_the_church's activities should be taxed.

Four years after he put a_stop on_his direct debit_contributions, Neil Ormerod has started donating again.

He’s still not sure,_though, that he’s doing the right thing.

"The_church has to do much more to win