Let victims sue church, rights group leader Chris Wilding urges inquiry

AUSTRALIA
The Australian

PIA AKERMAN
From:The Australian
March 26, 2013

THE founder of a leading victims’ rights group has called for legislative change to allow lawsuits against the Catholic church and retrospective charges for clergy who helped pedophile priests avoid exposure.

Chris Wilding, who began the Broken Rites group, today told a Victorian parliamentary inquiry that compensation and legal change were the priorities for victims.

“They have to be able to sue the church,” she told the committee which is examining how religious and non-state organisations have handled child sexual abuse claims.

“Most victims would want the hierarchy, the clergy to be prosecuted for protecting them (pedophiles), for shielding them, for moving them on for being accessories to a crime.

“It’s essential that is recognised by our state laws.

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