AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald

November 19, 2013

Paul Bibby
Court Reporter

The Anglican Church repeatedly denied responsibility for the physical and sexual abuse inflicted on scores of children at its home on the NSW north coast, the royal commission has heard, with one senior church figure allegedly declaring ”at least they had got a roof over their heads”.

The commission is examining the church’s response to allegations generations of vulnerable children at the North Coast Children’s Home in Lismore were abused from as early as 1944 to 1985.

The first day of the hearing on Monday heard harrowing evidence from victims of the abuse who recalled being assaulted on a regular basis by members of the clergy, other employees and residents. This included being anally raped, forced to perform oral sex, and beaten with canes and ”pony” whips.

The commission heard that in 2007 one of the victims,…