Catholic bishops discuss abuse inquiry

Australia's Catholic bishops have started discussions with the Vatican as they prepare their response to issues raised by the child abuse royal commission.

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference will hold a special meeting in Melbourne next week to discuss the Catholic Church's formal response to the commission's final report, handed down in December.

ACBC president Archbishop Mark Coleridge said he hoped the response would be released as soon as possible after the additional plenary meeting, being held on August 2 and 3.

"We decided we couldn't wait until our next scheduled plenary meeting in late November to finalise our response," he said in a statement on Thursday.

Archbishop Coleridge said the bishops had not received enough advice at at the time of their May plenary meeting but now had additional advice including from its new professional standards body and canon lawyers.

"We have also begun discussions with the Holy See about issues that concern the discipline and doctrine of the universal church," he said.

The Brisbane archbishop held talks with Vatican officials in June about the royal commission's recommendations, which include the controversial call to break the sacramental seal of confession to reveal child sexual abuse.

The five-year inquiry's far-reaching recommendations included changes to canon law and voluntary celibacy for priests.

The advice being considered by the ACBC includes the final reports of its royal commission body, the Truth Justice and Healing Council.