AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald
Rachel Browne
Uniting Church institutions, including schools and foster homes, have been the subject of more than 2500 allegations or incidents of child sexual abuse over the past 40 years, a royal commission has heard.
New analysis released by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse shows there have been 2504 incidents, allegations or claims of paedophilia involving Uniting Church institutions since 1977.
Counsel assisting the commission Angus Stewart SC told the inquiry 255 people have made claims against the church, which has paid $17.5 million in settling child sexual abuse cases.
The inquiry heard the church has not had time to confirm the commission’s analysis of the data.
The inquiry heard 91 people who have attended the commission’s private sessions reported they were allegedly abused in Uniting Church institutions, with the majority relating to schools or out-of-home care providers.
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