AUSTRALIA
Broken Rites
By a Broken Rites researcher (article updated 11 November 2013)
Australia’s first parliamentary inquiry into the handling of child abuse by religious and other organisations will table its findings in mid-November 2013. This inquiry, established by the Victorian State Parliament, paved the way for a national Royal Commission which was later established by the Australian Federal Government.
Observers expect that the Victorian inquiry’s report will criticise the Catholic Church’s covering up of child-sex abuse. That is, the church authorities have been failing to make sure that criminal offences are reported to the Victoria Police.
The Victorian inquiry held more than 160 hearings over nine months in late 2012 and early 2013.
The inquiry heard evidence from victims, their families, experts, and other professionals. Almost half of its hearings were held in secret.
The inquiry considered more than 400 written submissions, including two written submissions from Broken Rites.
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