Victorian Government Announces Church Abuse Inquiry

By James Bennett
ABC - 7.30
April 17, 2012

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2012/s3479715.htm

[with video]

Transcript

CHRIS UHLMANN, PRESENTER: The long and sorry saga over sexual abuse in the Catholic Church has prompted the Victorian Government to launch a parliamentary inquiry. After decades of accusations, pressure on the Baillieu Government to act intensified after a leaked police report linked dozen of suicides to abuse, but the decision not to call for a Royal Commission is already under fire. James Bennett reports.

JAMES BENNETT, REPORTER: Anthony and Christine Foster are all too familiar with the trauma caused by sex abuses within the Catholic community. Two of their young daughters became regular victims of parish priest Father Kevin O'Donnell during their early years of primary school.

CHRISTINE FOSTER, MOTHER OF VICTIMS: Emma has died, Katie has been disabled forever and Amy suffers as well. All this because they didn't remove a priest who was sexually assaulting children, and it should have happened and it didn't happen.

JAMES BENNETT: One daughter, Emma Foster, took her own life in her 20s after years of depression, self harm and heroin abuse. Her sister Katie became a binge drinker as a result of the abuse, and was hit by a drunk driver and remains physically and mentally disabled.

ANTHONY FOSTER, FATHER OF VICTIMS: We've seen over the past week with all the publicity victims have come forward. The openness gives them a strength to speak.

JAMES BENNETT: The Fosters initially sought justice by way of compensation from the Church. But later when they did pursue legal avenues, lawyers said they did not admit the abuse happened.

VIVIAN WALLER, LAWYER: The Church has adopted the approach of making each victim feel perhaps they are the only one making allegations about a particular priest or Christian brother, when in fact a basic line of inquiry will uncover a systemic pattern of abuse in a number of Catholic clergy organisations.

CHRISTINE FOSTER: They're the same issue that led to all of the children being abused which need to be looked at.

ANTHONY FOSTER: They, along with many other victims and their families, have been fighting for a Royal Commission ever since.

TED BAILLIEU, VICTORIAN PREMIER: The Government today is announcing that there will be a parliamentary inquiry into this matter, with broad terms of reference.

JAMES BENNETT: In February, a report by retired judge Philip Cummins called for mandatory reporting of sex abuse allegations, and an independent inquiry able to compel witnesses and subpoena evidence. Pressure grew significantly last week when leaked reports written by Victoria police detective sergeant Kevin Carson linked sexual abuse by priests to the suicides of at least 40 people.

Lawyer Judy Courtin's PhD research into sexual abuse has uncovered more unreported suicides she says are because of abuse by priests.

JUDY COURTIN, LAWYER: I was concerned the Attorney-General today sort of defended the parliamentary inquiry in terms of it being a better inquiry for the victims. It is a more informal victim-friendly approach, if you like. I've been talking to so many victims, and they want something with teeth. They want to be able to tell their story, to be heard and to be believed.

JAMES BENNETT: And she says the inquiry should not expect the Catholic Church to reciprocate.

JUDY COURTIN: The Catholic Church has a lot of money, has a lot of power. Now they're going to throw that money to that parliamentary inquiry, just to defend themselves, really. Is that inquiry going to match the same strength and adversarial legalistic nature of the Church?

JAMES BENNETT: The state government has promised the inquiry will have the power to compel witnesses and subpoena documents. Anyone refusing could be in contempt of Parliament.

ROBERT CLARK, VICTORIAN ATTORNEY-GENERAL: We believe a parliamentary inquiry is a more suitable forum for investigating these particular issues.

VIVIAN WALLER: In other situations where there has been significant loss of life in the Victorian community - the collapse of the Westgate bridge, the bushfires - there has been a Royal Commission. Clergy sex abuse has caused at least 40 to 50 suicides, and they're only the ones that we know about. There is significant loss of life arising from this issue, and it really does warrant a Royal Commission.

JAMES BENNETT: But the main question from today's announcement is whether the six-MP standing committee will be capable of digging through the mountains of material and many more victims expected to come forward. Four of its six members are first-term parliamentarians; none have legal experience.

MICHAEL HOLCROFT: Normally a Royal Commissioner is a person who is quite experienced and skilled in court proceedings - now whether that is a judge or a senior barrister. And they are people who have skills who can draw out evidence and question witnesses a lot better than parliamentarians.

JAMES BENNETT: A spokesman says the Catholic Church is prepared to cooperate and welcomes the inquiry as an opportunity to clear the air. That's a sentiment the Fosters share, if for different reasons.

CHRISTINE FOSTER: This needs to be brought out so that everyone can see it in the attempt to not let history repeat itself and that children are safe in the future. That will be of benefit to us.

ANTHONY FOSTER: With the circumstances of our case are shocking on their own and would be a huge story on their own, and there are hundreds of them.