Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart has admitted the Catholic Church buried complaints against clergy accused of sexually abusing children and misled parishioners by allowing paedophile priests to resign for health reasons.

On Tuesday the child abuse royal commission turned its focus to paedophile priests including Nazareno Fasciale, who retired four decades after allegations of child sex abuse against him were first referred to senior church officials.

Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart conceded the church left parishioners exposed to abuse. Credit:Joe Armao

Archbishop Hart agreed the church suppressed complaints to protect its reputation and that the response by senior officials in the Fasciale case was "totally unacceptable".

Fasciale went overseas on extended leave after a 1954 complaint that he molested two sisters, and a 1960 complaint that he indecently assaulted a third girl.