BishopAccountability.org
	Priest Sex Abuse Victim Tells How He Tried to 'Numb the Pain' ABC December 7, 2007 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/07/2112558.htm?site=idx-tas The Launceston Criminal Court has heard an emotional victim impact statement from the sexual abuse victim of a former Tasmanian priest. Gregory Laurence Ferguson was found guilty yesterday of maintaining a sexual relationship with a person under the age of 17. 70 year old Ferguson was a priest and teacher at Burnie's Marist College when he abused the 12 year old boy in 1970. The victim began crying while he read his statement. He said it was hard to put into words how he felt, but for nearly 40 years he had experienced shame, embarrassment, loneliness and guilt. He told the court that because of the abuse he wouldn't let his daughters be christened as Catholics, or attend private schools. He said he still has trouble trusting men, and that he stole from his grandmother as a youth in order to pay for alcohol to 'numb the pain'. Ferguson will be sentenced next Thursday.
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