AUSTRALIA
Catholic Online
9/24/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)
More than 600 children are estimated to have been sexually abused by priests since the Thirties
The archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart has described the recently revealed statistics as “horrific and shameful.” Australia’s Roman Catholic Church has finally come forward to admit that more than 600 children have been sexually abused by its priests since the Thirties in the state of Victoria.
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) – Campaigners say the actual figure could be closer to as many as 10,000 victims. The recent admission came in a submission to a state parliamentary inquiry into the handling of abuse cases.
The church confirmed that the 620 cases went back 80 years, the majority of the instances taking place between the Sixties and the Eighties. There are an additional 45 cases under investigation.
Archbishop Hart said it was important to be open “about the horrific abuse that has occurred in Victoria and elsewhere.”
In a written statement, Hart continued, “We look to this inquiry to assist the healing of those who have been abused, to examine the broad context of the church’s response, especially over the last 16 years, and to make recommendations to enhance the care for victims and preventative measures that are now in place.”
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