Father of Abuse Victims Anthony Foster Dies

By Melissa Cunningham
The Age
May 26, 2017

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/father-of-abuse-victims-anthony-foster-dies-20170526-gweeff.html

Tributes are pouring in for Anthony Foster who became a tireless and high-profile advocate for child sexual abuse victims after his daughters were raped by a priest.

Chrissie and Anthony Foster campaigned for abuse survivors after their own family was torn apart. Photo: Eamon Gallagher

Mr Foster, 64, died after suffering a stroke on Friday evening.

He rose to national prominence after he publicly accused Cardinal George Pell of stalling the family's compensation claim against the Catholic Church when he was archbishop of Melbourne.

It is believed Mr Foster fell and hit his head before suffering a major stroke. He died with his wife Chrissie by his side.

Two of the Fosters' daughters, Emma and Katie, were repeatedly raped by disgraced Melbourne priest Kevin O'Donnell while pupils at a primary school in Melbourne's Oakleigh parish.

After years of turmoil and a decade-long court battle, Emma died by suicide at the age of 26.

Her sister Katie drank heavily before being left severely disabled when hit by a drunk driver in 1999.

The Foster family - Chrissie, Katie, Aimee, Emma and Anthony. Photo: Supplied

She now requires 24-hour care.

Yeshiva Centre child sexual abuse whistleblower Manny Waks said he was devastated by the death of his close friend.

Anthony Foster, whose two daughters were abused, speaking to the media. Photo: Simon O'Dwyer

"Despite all they endured, they maintained determination and dignity in their ongoing campaign for justice and reform within the Catholic Church - for them and for others," Mr Waks posted in an emotional tribute on Facebook.

In 2010, Mr Foster told Fairfax Media Chrissie was his "soul mate".

"Everything that has happened to Chrissie and me has always been underpinned by our amazing relationship," he said at the time.

"When we became aware of O'Donnell's crimes against our daughters, Chrissie and I automatically became a common force trying to deal with the might of the Catholic Church. The church should be ashamed. If it had been open about the abuse, Emma might have still been here today."

Ms Foster also spoke of her unconditional love for her husband during the same interview:

"Anthony gets upset if I say, "It's my fault." He says: "I love you. This happened and we are in it together." It's humbling. If it was the other way round, I don't know if I'd have the same reaction. He says: "I don't want to lose you because that would be the end of everything."

"The Catholic Church has taken two of our daughters from us, but they can never take away our love for each other and for our children."

Mr Foster told the inquiry Victorian inquiry into how the churches handled child sex abuse in 2012 Cardinal Pell showed a "sociopathic lack of empathy" when he met them, and challenged them "if you don't like what we are doing, take us to court".

The Fosters rejected a $50,000 offer under the Catholic Church's Melbourne Response scheme and took the church to court, where the church - despite having given the Fosters a written apology and the finding of independent commissioner Peter O'Callaghan confirming the rapes - denied O'Donnell had abused the girls.

They settled before judgment for $450,000 for Emma plus compensation for Katie and costs.

Last year, the Fosters travelled with other survivors to Rome to watch Cardinal Pell give evidence to the Royal Commission.

Each night in Rome after Cardinal Pell's evidence at the Hotel Quirinale, Mr Foster would front the world's media holding a photo of his two smiling daughters, Emma and Katherine, dressed in their school uniforms.

"These are my girls," he told reporters.

"A Catholic priest was raping them when this photo was taken. This was my perfect family. We created that. The Catholic Church destroyed it."

He also confronted Cardinal Pell outside the hotel after the Cardinal's second day of testimony via video link.

He clutched the Cardinal's hand as he left the hotel, telling him "he was holding the hand of a broken man".

The chair of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse Justice Peter McClellan said the commissioners and staff were deeply saddened by Mr Foster's death.

"They attended hundreds of days of public hearings and participated in many of our policy roundtables," Mr McClellan said.

"With a dignity and grace, Anthony and Chrissie generously supported countless survivors and their families whilst also managing their own grief."

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews paid tribute to Mr Foster and said his advocacy would never be forgotten.

"Anthony campaigned tirelessly for justice from the Catholic Church and [over] the evil done to his daughters and his family," Mr Andrews said.

"That he was able to take the incredible hurt, pain, and anger caused by this and become an advocate for all child sexual abuse victims is a mark of just how remarkable Anthony was. By speaking out against child sexual abuse, he helped other victims find their voice and gave them strength. Anthony will never be forgotten and the fight for justice goes on."

Ballarat clergy abuse survivor and victim's advocate, Peter Blenkiron, said Mr Foster had dedicated his life to trying to make something good come out of the horror inflicted on his children.

"What the Fosters have done together has been beyond measure," Mr Blenkiron said.

"He stood up for his kids. Anybody with an ounce of decency knows it is not OK to rape children. He stood up against those who didn't get that.

"He tried to change the world. And he did. A good man has been taken from us far too soon."

Chief executive of the Catholic Church's Truth, Justice and Healing Council, Francis Sullivan, also paid tribute to Mr Foster.

"Throughout the commission process and in private encounters with Anthony and Chrissie they have always put the interests of their daughters and the many survivors they have worked with first. Anthony's strong and clear advocacy and support will be missed by many."