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	Leader of Victims of Pedophile Clergymen Meets Pope's Envoy By Lanai Vasek The Australian September 7, 2010 http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/leader-of-victims-of-pedophile-clergymen-meets-popes-envoy/story-e6frg6nf-1225915037666 The Pope's diplomatic representative in Australia has been confronted by a woman who says she was raped by a priest from the age of 10. Nikki Wells -- who said she was abused twice a week for two years while attending St Gerards Catholic primary school in northwestern Carlingford -- met the Papal Nuncio, Giuseppe Lazzarotto, at the embassy of the Holy See in Canberra yesterday. It was the first time an Australian papal nuncio had agreed to meet a victim of clergy abuse to openly discuss claims of abuse. Ms Wells, 42, said she was raped by her parish priest, Finian Egan, from the age of 10 but she started to talk about the abuse only three years ago when she founded the group Survivors of Clergy Abuse Australia. "My life was a train wreck and I had a young son . . . I knew I needed to do something and talk out to try and prevent this happening to other children," Ms Wells told The Australian yesterday. An independent investigation by the Catholic Church's Towards Healing program judged that, on the balance of probabilities, Father Egan was a pedophile. Now retired, he's since played golf in church tournaments, represented local Catholic schools and remains listed on the Broken Bay Diocese website as a priest, like other retired clergymen, available for supplementary duties such as weddings. NSW police yesterday confirmed investigations into abuse allegations against Father Egan were ongoing. Father Egan could not be contacted for comment last night. Ms Wells said she discussed additional compensation for victims of clergy abuse, immediate counselling services for the abused and an overhaul of the church's investigations process in the 90 minute meeting with the Papal Nuncio. "He was very interested in all I had to say, but he simply said he did not have the jurisdiction to enact anything that I was calling for," she said. On her experiences, she said he was "very sorry and saddened". "I was speaking to him more on behalf of all victims, although I spoke about me -- but I want change for everyone," she said. "I want reform from the roots up and that means getting politicians and . . . society involved." Ms Wells's call for an increased focus on preventing church-related sexual abuse came as child protection group Bravehearts urged better funded education programs to prevent child sexual assault. Bravehearts executive director Hetty Johnston said protecting children "should be top of the wishlist for all Australians and politicians".
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