BishopAccountability.org

Victims Cheer Reforms to Protect Children

News.com.au
November 13, 2013

http://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/victims-cheer-reforms-to-protect-children/story-fnii5sms-1226759336482

Tears and applause greet the release of the parliamentary report calling for laws to protect children.

Supporters outside Parliment House.

SEXUAL abuse victims and their supporters burst into tears and applause as they welcomed a State Parliament report calling for sweeping new laws to protect children.

Some said the recommendations, including for new offences related to grooming and cover-ups, offered a "glimmer of hope" that children would be better protected.

Others called for a fresh look at compensation paid by churches to victims.

Chrissie Foster, two of whose three daughters were raped by a Catholic priest, Kevin O'Donnell, while they were in primary school, said the release of the report was a happy occasion.

One daughter, Emma, committed suicide in 2008.

Emma's sister, Katie, became a heavy drinker and was left disabled when hit by a drunk driver in 1999.

Despite the family's tragedies, Ms Foster said the release of the report of the parliamentary inquiry was a happy occasion for victims.

Ms Foster said: "I know we've had many losses in our lives, but we can't do anything about that - we can't bring Emma back.

"But this is totally satisfying, because it's a real foundation for what needs to be done for the safety of future children," she said.

Husband Anthony said he supported the committee's recommendations, but was concerned the church couldn't be trusted to adequately compensate victims.

"I have a particular concern about the treatment of the past victims," Anthony said.

"I think that's a particular concern. We need to be sure that the Catholic Church looks at what they have paid victims in the past and brings that up to the level of what the Government thinks it should be now."

Outside Parliament, high-profile priest Father Bob Maguire addressing victims and supporters, described the Catholic Church's handling of child sexual abuse as abysmal.

"The recommendations are reasonable. They are necessary. They are long overdue," Fr Maguire said.

John Cleary, 65, from the sexual abuse victims support group Moving Towards Justice, said he came to Parliament as a concerned parishioner.

"The report will go a long way towards changing the culture,' he said.

"It may take a couple of generations, though. There's a lot of deadwood still there."

Nicky Davis, from Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said victims of child sexual assault had reason to celebrate and the report provided "a glimmer of hope" for better child protection.

"The campaign of excuses, misinformation, minimisation and distraction by religious officials has not convinced anyone," she said.

Victim Mick Serch, who was abused by the Christian Brothers in primary school welcomed the report but said the scars of his abuse would never heal.

"The more of this sort of thing (the inquiry) we have the better for everyone," he said.

"It's a great thing, but a lot more that needs to be done."

Advocacy group Broken Rites spokesman John McNally said the report "nailed it".

"It's a real milestone in this journey," he said.

"It validates that the victims are not guilty in any way and the church, through their neglect of their duty, are the ones at fault," Mr McNally said.

Contact: annika.smethurst@news.com.au




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