FORMER Toowoomba Catholic priest Dr Jim Madden said the announcement of a royal commission into the sex abuse of minors was well overdue.

In announcing the royal commission, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the investigation would not focus solely on the Catholic Church.

She said it would include religious organisations, state-run institutions, church and state-run schools and not-for-profit organisations, including sporting clubs and Scouts.

Mr Madden, who served as a priest for 16-years, said the Catholic Church was only reluctantly playing ball because it had been forced to do so by public pressure.

Former Catholic priest Dr Jim Madden. Kevin Farmer

"The church has for a long time turned a blind eye to it all," Dr Madden said.

"They always viewed it as being a moral matter, not a criminal matter.

"The church has always taken the easy way out by simply ignoring it and sending the perpetrator to confessional," he said.

Reader poll Do you believe the Royal Commission will protect future children from abuse? This poll ended on 13 December 2012. Current Results Yes 49% No 50% This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

Mr Madden said he was aware of several sex abuse incidents during his time as a priest.

"I personally knew a priest, who is dead now, who had things said about him," he said.

"Of the 17 people who graduated in my class from the seminary, four have served prison sentences for their paedophilia activities.

"There was a further two in the class after mine and another one in the class after that."

Mr Madden said he recalled vividly a time a young boy came to him asking for help.

"A 12-year-old boy once came to me and told me that another priest had tried to play with his privates and asked the boy to do the same back to him," he said.

"The boy's parents were told but they chastised the boy for telling lies about a man of god.

"The Bishop became aware of the situation and simply moved the priest to another diocese."

Mr Madden said he hoped the church would become more transparent and move in line with the times.

"The church has always, and continues to, sweep matters under the carpet," he said.

"Priests took risks with children knowing they would be protected by the church.

"I have no doubt that the announcement of the royal commission has some people very worried."