Churches should lose charity status over child abuse, former tax head says

Terry Hamilton writes to tax office and charities watchdog about failures royal commission found in Catholic and other churches

It is unacceptable for churches that failed to protect children from sexual abuse to still have charity status nine months after the royal commission delivered its final report, a former taxation commissioner has said.

Terry Hamilton wrote to the prime minister’s office, the Australian Taxation Office and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) expressing concern at the number of unchallenged breaches of taxation law by Australia’s religious institutions.

Related: Melbourne Anglican diocese denies ignoring complaints about Peter Hollingworth

Related: Victoria criticised for delaying decision on reporting child abuse heard in confession

Do you know more? melissa.davey@theguardian.com

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from Children | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2Mlwcy0