Church Melbourne abuse scheme 'caring' - SBS

The Catholic Church's Melbourne Response for victims of pedophile priests is sound and appropriate, the Melbourne archbishop says.

The Melbourne archbishop says the Catholic Church's abuse complaints scheme is sound, appropriate and caring, despite criticism from victims and their families.

But Archbishop Denis Hart says a former federal court judge will review the Melbourne Response including whether the cap on compensation payments should be lifted or removed.

Archbishop Hart told the child abuse royal commission the way the Melbourne archdiocese handled clergy abuse allegations through the Melbourne Response remained sound and the process was conducted with professionalism and compassion.

He said there had been only a relatively small number of complaints arising from Melbourne Response cases.

"It is my view that overall the Melbourne Response remains a sound and appropriate mechanism for responding to complaints of child sex abuse," Archbishop Hart said.

He said he had been moved by reports of how "caring" the scheme's independent commissioners were.

"I have great confidence in the integrity of the Melbourne Response and in the integrity of the people who are involved in it," Archbishop Hart said.

Critics of the Catholic Church's Melbourne Response, set up in 1996 to handle sex abuse claims in the Melbourne archdiocese, say it was overly legalistic and re-traumatised victims.

While the system is being reviewed, Archbishop Hart backed the scheme overall.

"There is evidence from time to time of very real compassion shown," he told the commission on Monday.

"I know that's not universal but it shows that it is possible and it shows that in the type of work that we are doing that it has to be an objective."

Former federal court judge Donnell Ryan QC will head the review of the Melbourne Response.

Mr Ryan's report will look at any improvements to the Melbourne Response, including whether the $75,000 cap on compensation should be lifted or removed, Archbishop Hart told the royal commission.

Mr Ryan will also examine how the amount of compensation paid to sex abuse victims should be determined and whether past cases where compensation has been paid should be reviewed.

If so, the report will look at the procedures that should apply.

Archbishop Hart said he understood some victims using the Melbourne Response were intimidated by going to powerful lawyers in their law chambers.

Victims complained to the royal commission about feeling intimidated when visiting the Melbourne Response's independent commissioners in what one described as "monstrous" offices.

Some said they felt discouraged from going to the police after meeting with the Melbourne Response.

"I think you have to balance who you get to establish the facts with the ability of that person on the one hand, but then conveying an atmosphere of welcome and compassion," Archbishop Hart said.