AUSTRALIA
Herald Sun
A FORMER victim has applauded the Government’s announcement of a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse, saying tens of thousands can now tell their story “without fear, shame and guilt”.
Pete Dillon was an eight-year-old altar boy when he was “forced and coerced” into performing sexual acts by a Catholic priest in regional Victoria.
He was warned he couldn’t tell anyone about the abuse, which went on for a couple of years, and he didn’t. He kept the truth hidden for 22 years.
Describing his 20s as a hellish period that terrified him, Mr Dillon finally sought therapy, and at the age of 30 came to terms with the abuse and came out as gay.
“It was like a massive weight off my shoulders,” he told news.com.au.
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