LEIGH SALES, PRESENTER: Anthony and Chrissie Foster, who we just saw in Heather Ewart's story, attended today's appearance by Cardinal Pell, as you saw. They joined me a short time ago from our Melbourne studio.

Mr And Mrs Foster, what's your reaction to Cardinal Pell's testimony today?

ANTHONY FOSTER: It was a lot the same as we heard from Archbishop Hart last week, a lot of blaming the predecessors, blaming predecessors who are dead, saying it's not his area; he's in Sydney; this is Melbourne. A lot of excuses, a lot of slipperiness and a lot of very carefully crafted answers to the questions put by the committee. There were a couple of little things that came out that I think are important. One, he seemed to agree to comply with any changes that our State Government would make in regards to legislation that would maybe provide better compensation for victims. And he had some sense of agreement about the wealth of the Catholic Church when it was put to him, up in the billions, and clearly said, "We will pay whatever compensation - we have got enough money to pay whatever compensation's required." So, you have to ask why it's been held back in the past.

LEIGH SALES: What was your reaction to his statement that the Church's top priority was not minimising the financial damage and not protecting the Church's reputation?

ANTHONY FOSTER: Well it can only be that. It can only be minimising the financial impact and everything that his predecessor Archbishop Little did was to minimise scandals to the Church and the impact on the Church. So, I think that's nonsensical, those sort of claims.

LEIGH SALES: Mrs Foster, what struck you the most today in Cardinal Pell's testimony?

CHRISSIE FOSTER: Ah, well, that capping that they were talking about, he put in place. And then today he said, "Well, I can't do anything about that. You'll have to check with Archbishop Hart." Towards the end he was answering more questions that were related to cover-up, and I felt there that there was more truth coming out of that.

ANTHONY FOSTER: There was certainly an admission to cover up.

LEIGH SALES: What did you both think when you heard him say that? Is that something that you've heard any official from the Catholic Church admit previously?

ANTHONY FOSTER: Well we heard Archbishop Hart say that last week. So, yes, we've heard that. It's not something we've heard him say directly, but it's something that we all know. And to hear these words finally come out of their mouths, in many ways is meaningless unless we see real action coming from their admissions. If we finally got into a position where he would, as one of the members of the committee David O'Brien asked at the end, would he go the extra mile for victims? Would he go more than what is maybe necessary to make sure victims are treated properly and correctly? That's what's required. And he effectively took that on notice and wouldn't answer it. So, that's not "doing everything that I can for victims," which was the previous claim.

LEIGH SALES: What do you say to Cardinal Pell's statement that the Church had no idea about the extent of the abuse that was going on?

ANTHONY FOSTER: Well the Church had its own regulations in canon law about the abuse of children and it should've known what was going on. That's the whole point of this. The managers of the Catholic Church, the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, the archbishops, the monsignors - all the levels of hierarchy should've known what was going on. That was their job, to manage it. And they've turned a blind eye. And even now that they have - that we know that this was going on, they still have not undertaken any systemic investigation. In the case of the perpetrator on our child, they still haven't gone back looking for victims, trying to do the best for victims. They only react to claims.

CHRISSIE FOSTER: And also, Cardinal Pell said he would remove O'Donnell's name from the Church plaque. It's still there. He was put in prison in 1995, so, it's still there, so ...

ANTHONY FOSTER: There's still recognition.

LEIGH SALES: Given what you've witnessed today, how hopeful or otherwise do you feel that the Royal Commission will be able to secure any modicum of justice for victims?

ANTHONY FOSTER: Well I think the Royal Commission will be more forensic in its examination of these witnesses. I think that's most likely the case. But more importantly for us, we have now seen the last public hearing in Victoria of this parliamentary inquiry. We have a premier who we believe is supportive of the issue with what he - he asked yesterday for Cardinal Pell the truth. And you have to ask what's it come to when the Premier of Victoria has to ask the Cardinal to tell the truth at an inquiry? Now, we now have a situation where we hope that we will get the right recommendations out of this inquiry and then we'll get action by this government to change the legislation to force the Catholic Church to look after victims, to enable victims to get true justice, and so that then there will be consequences for anyone who tries to do this sort of covering up in the future.

LEIGH SALES: Mr and Mrs Foster, thank you very much for your time.

ANTHONY FOSTER: Thank you.

CHRISSIE FOSTER: Thank you.