AUSTRALIA
The Advertiser
Nigel Hunt
29jan06
THE Catholic Church has moved to assure victims of sexual abuse their legal fees will continue to be paid following confusion created by a new policy document.
Catholic diocese of Adelaide Director of Professional Standards Sue Cain yesterday said there would be no change to the existing system under which cases were assessed individually and all legal fees paid "in many cases".
This was despite a revised Towards Healing principles and procedures guidelines document provided to lawyers representing abuse victims stating otherwise.
The document says "as support persons are not remunerated for their role in the process, no legal fees are payable to support persons who are legal practitioners".