Advocates and legal groups say a landmark “breakthrough” over the Catholic Church’s culpability for the crimes of paedophile priests will lead to better outcomes for victim-survivors.

Key points:

• Victoria’s highest court has upheld a ruling finding the Catholic Church liable for sexual abuse by a paedophile priest
• The ruling brings Australia in line with international law 
• A lawyer says the tide has turned for abuse survivors in Australia

Yesterday Victoria’s highest court upheld a ruling that the Catholic Church is vicariously liable for child sexual abuse by a priest, making it easier for survivors to receive compensation.

Ballarat abuse survivor Paul Auchettl knows too well that for the longest time, clergy abuse was encased in silence. 

He was abused by the notorious paedophile and Christian Brother Robert Best, who was Mr Auchettl’s Year Six teacher at St Alipius primary school. 

His younger brother Peter was also abused and died by suicide more than a…