AUSTRALIA
The Australian
JENNIFER SEXTON THE DAILY TELEGRAPH DECEMBER 11, 2013
THE Catholic Church ran its insurance company as a charity at law but treated sexual abuse claims in much the same way as any other insurance claim – make no admissions of liability and be wary of apologising.
The royal commission yesterday heard that lawyers and insurers were dictating the terms of mediations with the Catholic Church’s victims of sexual abuse.
The church’s insurance representative Laurie Rolls warned priests the victims would forfeit the right to pastoral care if they engaged a lawyer.
Mr Rolls told the commission in a statement that liability was at all times reduced.
Representing Catholic Church Insurances Limited, he said the sexual abuse claims were treated in much the same way as any other insurance claim, “to make no admission of liability”, be wary of apologies and use technical defences and limitations where ever possible.
Rev Dr Adrian Farrelly, Chancellor of the Catholic archdiocese of Brisbane, said that before saying sorry in writing to victim Joan Isaacs, he sent a draft letter to Mr Rolls. Letters show Mr Rolls ordered the removal of a crucial sentence: “I am sorry that you were not believed when you told other priests what had happened to you.”
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