Inquiry bungles church abuse complaint

AUSTRALIA
The Age

July 27, 2012

Barney Zwartz

A VICTIM of sexual abuse – by a Catholic priest – who wrote to a government inquiry into clergy sexual abuse was referred to a Catholic agency, less than a week after the committee’s chief executive assured The Age such a conflict could not happen.

Peter Blenkiron, of Ballarat, was appalled when he was referred to Centacare, a Catholic agency he found ”terrible” when he first reported his abuse several years ago.

He wrote on July 10 to the parliamentary inquiry into the handling of child abuse by religious and other organisations seeking a simpler method for victims to be heard.

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