AUSTRALIA
Newcastle Herald
By JOANNE McCARTHY June 18, 2015
TERRY Skippen was 13 in 1960 when he was sexually abused in his classroom by Hunter Marist Brother Romuald, and 65 in 2012 when he became the first of Romuald’s victims to make a statement to police.
He told a judge last week he wanted to be identified to send a message to other victims of child sexual abuse – whether decades ago in institutions like the Catholic Church, or now, by a family member.
“I’m speaking to the media to plead with people who are victims of abuse not to live in silence,” Mr Skippen said.
“Please come forward, speak to someone, for the sake of yourself to get peace of mind and your families who have to live with the consequences of the abuse.”
Mr Skippen worked for Maitland-Newcastle diocese for decades, as a St Vincent de Paul Society finance committee member, parish administrative associate and diocesan finance committee member.
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