Fresh Calls for Vic Clergy Abuse Inquiry

Sky News
April 13, 2012

http://www.skynews.com.au/local/article.aspx?id=739253&vId=


The Victorian government is under renewed pressure to launch an inquiry into sexual abuse perpetrated by some Catholic clergy.

Secret police reports detail the suicides of at least 40 people sexually abused by Catholic clergy, according to Fairfax.

One of the reports notes the Catholic Church would have known about Brother Robert Best and Father Gerard Ridsdale, both convicted pedophiles, but chose to remain silent.

An inquiry into how religious groups respond to child abuse within their ranks is one of the key recommendations of a review into Victoria's child protection system.

It is understood there is deep division within government over whether or not there should be an inquiry.

Premier Ted Baillieu says he did not want to pre-empt any announcement but the reports were worrying.

'It is a matter of significant concern,' he told ABC Radio.

'The attorney (general) is looking at this very carefully.'

Mr Baillieu said there would be announcements about some of the recommendations made by the inquiry into child protection soon.

Attorney-General Robert Clark is in Canberra meeting with his state and territory counterparts on Friday.

Best was jailed for a minimum of 11 years and three months last August for sexually abusing young boys during a 20-year period at three Victorian schools.

He was found guilty at trial of 21 charges, including the rape of a nine-year-old disabled boy, and later pleaded guilty to a further six.

All 27 charges related to 11 boys he taught at St Alipius Primary School in Ballarat, St Leo's College in Box Hill and St Joseph's College in Geelong between 1969 and 1988.

Ridsdale was sentenced to 18 years' jail in 1994 after pleading guilty to 46 counts of indecent assault against 21 children.