Whitlam MP Stephen Jones has welcomed Cardinal George Pell's six year jail sentence and hopes he uses the time to reflect on the damage done to his victims.
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However, Mr Jones said the sentence for historical child sexual abuse could not compensate the victims for their loss.
"No amount of sentencing can bring back the person who lost his life," he said. "No amount of sentencing can repair the damage done to the victims."
A jury convicted Pell, 77, in December of orally raping a 13-year-old choirboy and molesting another at St Patrick's Cathedral in 1996 and 1997, finding him guilty of five charges.
Pell must serve at least three years and eight months in prison before being eligible for release on parole. He will be a registered sex offender for life.
Mr Jones said he was pleased Pell, who is the highest-ranking Catholic to be convicted and jailed for child sexual abuse, would be punished for his crimes.
"It sends a strong message to the Catholic priests and brothers that they are not above the law and it does not matter how long ago an offense occurred, justice will be served," he said.
"I can understand the perspective of victims and victims' advocates who think the sentence is inadequate because lives have been ruined."
Mr Jones spoke to the Mercury in 2016 about Edmund Rice College being a "dumping ground” for sexual predators in the 1980s. The former school captain said the paedophiles’ crimes were overlooked by those who could have ended the abuse.
"Since Pell's guilty verdict was handed down, there are many in the church that still don't get it," Mr Jones said.
"Some members of the church have expressed the view that they had more sympathy for the perpetrator than the victims and that is very unfortunate.
"And there are many who have come out and said the right thing.
"Police and courts have got a job to do. The law needs to be applied without fear or favour, even to the most powerful people in the church around the world.
"The church now has a job to do to ensure the practises that led to the offenses are changed so a new generation of victims are not created.
"In the eyes of the public, the church has a long hard road to go."
Pell denies all allegations of wrongdoing and has launched an appeal to the convictions.
In a statement, Pell's surviving victim said he appreciated "the court has acknowledged what was inflicted upon me as a child."
A pastoral letter from Bishop Brian Mascord, of the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong, said his concerns were with abuse victims.
"Recovery from such trauma can take a lifetime, if at all," he said. "At this time, I recognise the pain this whole matter has caused you as fellow members of the Catholic community.
"The abuse of minors by those ordained to represent the love and mercy of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, is a profound betrayal of people entrusted to their pastoral care."
