Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church member and retired child sexual abuse counsellor Kay Humphreys said she was "very disappointed".

"I can't see that he could go back to being a cardinal. I'm absolutely disappointed in the fact that he was released," she said.

Ms Humphreys said the overturning of such a high-profile case could discourage those who have suffered historical sexual abuse from speaking out.

"When we were growing up the priests were sacrosanct and what they said was always right," she said.

"We were ruled by fear, we were ruled by guilt and no child would come forward."

Former Wagga Catholic Mission director John Goonan said the community would need time to absorb the full meaning of the High Court's ruling.

"I think that the fact that there are so many different opinions coming from different legal sources and courts and so on, that to try and sort it out for the ordinary person is an extremely difficult task," he said.

Wagga Catholic Diocese apostolic administrator Reverend Kevin O'Reilly provided a statement from Archbishop Mark Coleridge as president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

Reverend O'Reilly said he supported the statement, which "stressed the church's unwavering commitment to child safety and compassionate response to survivors and victims".

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"[Tuesday's] outcome will be welcomed by many, including those who have believed in the cardinal's innocence throughout this lengthy process," Archbishop Coleridge stated.

"We also recognise that the High Court's decision will be devastating for others. Many have suffered greatly through the process, which has now reached its conclusion.

"The result today does not change the church's unwavering commitment to child safety and to a just and compassionate response to survivors and victims of child sexual abuse.

"The safety of children remains supremely important not only for the bishops, but for the entire Catholic community. A person with allegations of sexual abuse by church personnel should go to the police."