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	Educate Churches, Says Visiting Priest By James Manning Sydney Morning Herald November 12, 2010 http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/educate-churches-says-visiting-priest-20101112-17qra.html Australia's religious organisations have been told they must be held accountable for any terror and abuse suffered by children in their care. The call was made on second national annual Forget Me Knot Day, which is held each year by Adults Surviving Child Abuse (ASCA) in aid of Australian victims of child abuse. "We need to educate churches, whether they like to hear it or not, that we will no longer tolerate this perversion of the trust that has been given to them," Reverend Tom Doyle, a US church lawyer visiting Australia, said on Friday. Reverend Doyle describes himself as "the most reviled priest in the US" for his outspoken stance against abuse within the clergy. ASCA says one in three girls and one in six boys in Australia will be sexually abused in some way before the age of 18, resulting in devastating personal, social and economic costs. Research from the NSW Council of Social Services indicates victims of childhood abuse have higher rates of mental illness, suicide and substance abuse. A report from the Kids First Foundation says child abuse and neglect costs Australian taxpayers up to $5 billion every year. "As a society we can forget that abused children grow up. While some survivors show remarkable resilience most survivors carry the scars of childhood abuse into their adult life," ASCA chief executive Dr Cathy Kezelman said on Friday in Sydney. Federal Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness Mark Arbib said preventing abuse was as important as looking after its victims. "It just doesn't rob kids of their childhood, it has long-lasting scars," the senator said in Sydney at an ASCA event to mark Forget Me Knot Day. But ASCA chairman John Teer said churches are not the only institutions that must be held accountable for their role in child abuse. "Children can be abused in a variety of arenas - family homes, institutions, religious settings and that pain and suffering can continue through to adulthood," he said. ASCA has been working to break the silence on abuse and the millions of people it affects since its inception in 1995. "Silence and shame can mean that untangling the knot of childhood abuse is a solitary, confusing and complex task," said Dr Kezelman. A symbolic blue ribbon was woven through the crowd as guests observed a minute's silence for Australia's forgotten victims. Senator Arbib and ASCA were joined by partner survival organisations Alliance for Forgotten Australians, Care Leavers Australia Network and Survivors of Clergy Abuse Australia. The Survivors of Clergy Abuse Australia will hold the first Global Sexual Assault Summit in Sydney on Saturday. Victims of child abuse can contact the ASCA support line on .
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