Woman fell pregnant to Melbourne priest

A Melbourne archbishop tried to convince a woman who fell pregnant to a priest to have the baby adopted, an inquiry has heard.

Frank Little, Melbourne's archbishop from 1974 to 1996, had secret files on complaints against priests "acting out sexually", the child abuse royal commission heard.

Former vicar-general Bishop Peter Connors said Archbishop Little kept his own files on the priests' sexual conduct with adults.

Bishop Connors said Archbishop Little would confide in him, but not about all complaints about priests.

After a priest told Archbishop Little he made a woman pregnant, the priest was moved to another parish.

He then went to Bishop Connors, effectively the second-in-charge of the Melbourne archdiocese, for help.

"Then eventually he said to me: 'I've got to move him to another state and will you go and meet the woman and get her to get the baby adopted.'

"And I said 'she will not do that'."

Bishop Connors said Archbishop Little could move an assistant priest himself, although moving a parish priest would have to be discussed with the Curia which included the vicar-general and auxiliary or regional bishops.