Pell and Hart among commission witnesses

WITNESSES FOR ROYAL COMMISSION INTO MELBOURNE ARCHDIOCESE ABUSE:

CARDINAL GEORGE PELL

* Now Vatican financial chief

* Melbourne archbishop 1996-2001

* Auxiliary bishop of Melbourne 1987-1996

* Gives evidence week of December 14

ARCHBISHOP DENIS HART

* Melbourne archbishop since 2001

BISHOPS: Former vicars-general and auxiliary bishops of Melbourne archdiocese PETER CONNORS and HILTON DEAKIN

THOSE WHO SPOKE OUT:

* Former Melbourne priest PHILIP O'DONNELL - Told a Victorian inquiry then Melbourne Archbishop Frank Little (now dead) was told of allegations against a priest in 1970s, archdiocese knew about clergy abuse allegations since at least 1950s

* Former Holy Family Primary School (Doveton) principal GRAEME SLEEMAN - Complained about Doveton parish priest Peter Searson and resigned when nothing was done about him

* Former Holy Family Primary School teacher CARMEL RAFFERTY - Told Victorian inquiry group of teachers complained to Pell in early 1990s about sex abuse allegations against Searson

OTHERS INCLUDE: Four abuse survivors; former director of Catholic Education for Melbourne Father Thomas Doyle; Victoria Police assistant commissioner Stephen Fontana; Former principal of North Richmond's St James Primary School Patricia Taylor.