AUSTRALIA
SBS
The Catholic Church has indicated a major shift in its attitude towards civil court claims over child abuse.
Francis Sullivan from the Church’s Truth Justice and Healing Council says all religious leaders need to ensure there is a legal entity that is appropriately insured to allow individuals to brings claim of damages for cases of child abuse.
“The controversy over whether the Church can be sued or not needs to be clarified once and for all,” Mr Sullivan told the ABC. “And we are saying that all bishops and all religious leaders need to make available a legal entity, appropriately covered with insurance and wealth, so that individuals can bring a claim of damages against it for matters of child sex abuse.”
“We’re being emphatic about it and we are being clear because we believe it’s in the interests of the community.”
Meanwhile, the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney under then-Archbishop George Pell showed no concern for the well-being of sex abuse victim John Ellis as church solicitors fought him in court, a hearing has been told.
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