The Ballarat diocese may not be able meet the claims it faces for widespread child sexual abuse by clergy, its bishop says.
As many as 14 priests have been found to have abused children in the Victorian diocese.
It has already had at least 130 abuse complaints substantiated, mostly against pedophile priest Gerald Francis Ridsdale.
Ballarat Bishop Paul Bird said the financial position of the diocese was not strong, and some of its parishes that are reasonably well off are subsidising "quite a lot" that need assistance.
He said a finance committee had come to the conclusion that it could not really predict what financial liability the diocese faces for historical and current abuse claims.
"I do have doubts that we could meet those claims," he told the child sex abuse royal commission's Ballarat inquiry.
"If the funds that we have at the moment are not going to be sufficient, it may be that I would have to ask for help from other dioceses."
Bishop Bird said funds to settle claims of clergy sex abuse would come from Catholic Church Insurance if there was cover for that particular period.
If not, it would come from a fund set up decades ago for that specific purpose that has about $1 million in it, he told the commission.
Bishop Bird said there is a central investment fund for the diocese which has more than $100 million.
Those funds belong to the investors but the diocese can borrow from it and pay interest, he said.
Senior counsel assisting the commission Gail Furness SC said at least 14 priests of the Diocese of Ballarat have been the subject of one or more claims and substantiated complaints of child sex abuse.
Bishop Bird said he thought it was less than that, maybe 10 or 12.
ABUSE CLAIMS AND SUBSTANTIATED COMPLAINTS IN BALLARAT DIOCESE:
* At least 130 claims since 1980, including seven joint ones with Christian Brothers
* At least 14 priests subject of one or more claims
* Bishop says this may be closer to 10-12 priests
* At least 76 claims against Gerald Ridsdale from late 1950s to late 1980s
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