More than 160 members of the NCP arrived in Warrnambool last Monday for their four-day national convention.
Council chairman Father Eugene McKinnon, of Donald, said all Catholics felt the pain, hurt and mistrust of the sex abuse scandal.
“We have tremendous sympathy for the victims and we struggle to comprehend the hurt that they feel,” he said. “I know some would say they don’t want to hear ‘sorry’ but it is an ongoing pain we carry and certainly live with.”
Discussion topics are likely to include marriage and the role of women in the church.
“We still believe in the greatness of God’s spirit, we’re just saying we have to be open to change,” Father McKinnon said. “If you don’t change you will only deteriorate.”