I share your shock and shame on the crimes of the clergy, says George Pell

GEORGE Pell has used his traditional Christmas message to apologise for the crimes of Christian officials, priests and teachers.

AUSTRALIA'S most senior Catholic, George Pell, has used his traditional Christmas message to apologise for the crimes of Christian officials, priests and teachers, declaring he feels the community's "shock and shame" at revelations of wrongdoing.

Cardinal Pell spoke of Christ's message of peace but acknowledged there was less peace - and sometimes no peace - where there was evil.

DOCUMENT: Pell's Christmas message

"My heart, the hearts of all believers, of all people of goodwill, go out to all those who cannot find peace at this time, especially those who have suffered at the hands of fellow Christians; Christian officials, priests, religious, teachers," he said.

"I am deeply sorry this has happened. It is deeply contrary to Christ's teachings and I too feel the shock and shame across the community at these revelations of wrong doing and crimes."

Cardinal Pell's message comes as the federal government prepares its terms of reference for a national royal commission into abuse within institutions, due next year. He said faith in goodness and love was needed to cope with disasters and hurt.

The message of Jesus Christ, he said, was a simple "great truth" open to all and rooted in history.

Ahead of the most celebrated day on the Christian calendar, commemorating the birth of Jesus more than 2000 years ago, spiritual leaders reminded followers Christmas was a time for reflection and hope.

Anglican Church of Australia Primate, Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, said it was a time of celebration, new imagination and potential renewal for both society and individuals.

The leader of Australia's Anglican community said the story of Christmas reminded people of God's hope and life.

"It is easy to lose heart when we look upon our world," Archbishop Aspinall said.

"It seems society has become habitually cynical and mistrustful, our public discourse thin and impoverished.

"We are thirsting for a new spirit - new ideas, new generosity and a new gratitude for all we have and are. Christmas is the time for new imagination."

Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Peter Jensen - in his last Christmas address before his retirement next year - said it was a time for reconciliation with God and each other.

"Reconciliation is a big theme for us Aussies," he said.

"Notably, we need to be reconciled with each other; not least, we more recent immigrant settlers with our indigenous First People.

"Reconciliation has to flow out of love."

Catholic Archbishop Denis Hart, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, offered a prayer for the coming year while reflecting on Jesus's birth.

"My prayer is that 2013 will be characterised by peace in our society, tolerance and respect for young and old, and an ability to look beyond the immediate moment to the hope which God provides each of us by his coming," he said.

"Then we know that we are valued and we can make our city, our home, a better place.

"It is significant that God came to people in material poverty to show the great worth of each human person."

World Vision chief executive and Baptist reverend Tim Costello, said 2012 was a "grab bag of blessings and curses" for many Australians.

But Christmas was an opportunity to step away from the pressures and expectations of normal routines and find new possibilities.

" escaped the worst of the financial woes affecting other countries and our economy is still strong," Reverend Costello said.

"But on the other hand, many of us are struggling to keep up with our household expenses."

Churches of Christ federal coordinator Craig Brown made special mention of the young people abused by churches but said the institution may be able to partially restore lives.

Canberra Catholic Monsignor John Woods urged people to engage with the nativity scene of Christmas to get a perspective on the true significance of the period.

"Reclaim your lost innocence in the eyes of a baby, so powerless and yet so engaging," he said.

"This baby will confound, comfort and challenge and be rejected as too good to be true as he reconciles that which still divides us - life and death, light and dark, heaven and earth, victim and perpetrator, the refugee and the citizen, partisan politicians and the common good, the sick and the healthy, the rich and the unemployed, the loved and the lonely, all of us."