AUSTRALIA
ABC News
Lawyers are today strongly backing one of the key recommendations of the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into the handling of child abuse cases that laws be changed to allow victims to sue the Catholic Church. The recommendation says religious institutions which receive government funding or tax exemptions must be required to be incorporated. The recommendation is expected to be challenged by the Church.
Transcript
ELEANOR HALL: Lawyers and survivors of child abuse are today strongly backing one of the key recommendations of the Victorian Report into Child Sexual Abuse, that laws be changed to allow the Catholic Church to be sued.
The recommendation says religious institutions which receive government funding or tax exemptions, should be required to be incorporated.
It’s a powerful recommendation and one which many expect the Catholic Church to fight.
In Melbourne, Alison Caldwell reports.
ALISON CALDWELL: In its report to Parliament, the Victorian Committee strongly condemns the legal standing of the Catholic Church, upheld by politicians for decades.
EXCERPT FROM REPORT (voiceover): There is no doubt that the unincorporated structure of the Catholic Church has not only prevented victims of criminal child abuse from bringing legal claims against the Catholic Church as an entity. It has also been exploited by the Catholic Church to avoid financial liability.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.