Calls for Catholic Church to give equal justice to overseas abuse victims

AUSTRALIA
Australian Broadcasting Corporation

March 14, 2018

By Catherine Graue

As debate continues about the Catholic Church’s approach to the national redress scheme for Australian victims of child sexual abuse, the church is now being challenged to take responsibility and deal with crimes carried out by church officials overseas, in developing countries that include Papua New Guinea and the Philippines.

The call, from the chief executive officer of the Church’s Truth, Justice and Healing Council, comes as police in PNG wrap up their investigations into allegations an Australian priest, still working with children, inappropriately touched students.

Francis Sullivan said it was clear that priests with child sex allegations made against them had been sent overseas, although he is not prepared to concede that those actions were deliberate.

But he said the church needed to treat overseas survivors exactly as they would those in Australia, and ensure they get justice.

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