Your Say: Is Church Abuse Inquiry Needed?, by Michelle Carnovale, Waverly Leader, April 11, 2011

Your Say: Is Church Abuse Inquiry Needed?

By Michelle Carnovale
Waverly Leader
April 11, 2011

http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/your-say-fosters-legacy-eyes-sex-abuse-claims/

Chrissie Foster has pushed long and hard for her story about the Catholic Church to be heard. Picture: Eugene Hyland

AN OAKLEIGH family’s horror at the hands of a Catholic priest could be the catalyst to force the church to abide by state regulations in cases of sexual abuse by the clergy.

Mother-of-three Chrissie Foster’s powerful book detailing the years of sexual abuse of two of her daughters at the hands of priest Father Kevin O’Donnell, was introduced into the Victorian Parliamentary Library last week by Oakleigh MP Ann Barker.

Ms Barker, who criticised the Catholic Church’s secretive culture outlined in the book, Hell on the way to Heaven, also took the historic step of calling for an independent inquiry into its policies regarding allegations of abuse.

The lives of Mrs Foster, pictured, and her family were turned upside down by O’Donnell, who was convicted of child sex offences over 31 years and jailed in 1995. He died in 1996 after being released from prison.