Cover-up of Sex Abuse in Australia

Pannone Blog
July 5, 2012

http://www.pannone.com/blog/abuse/abuse/cover-up-of-sex-abuse-in-australia

The Roman Catholic Church is again embroiled in claims of a cover-up over its handling of child sexual assault allegations involving priests. This time in Australia. I have reported in the past abuse cases there, but recently our attention has focused on the Lynn case in the USA.

The ABC's Four Corners program has revealed the church apparently failed to pass on abuse admissions by a priest to police.

Four Corners says it obtained documents showing a New South Wales priest, who is accused of abusing young boys, made clear admissions during a meeting with three senior priests, but they never referred the matter to police.

The programme also detailed several cases in which priests were merely moved on when the church was made aware of sexual abuse claims against them. This is a familiar practice identified in both the UK and US.

The argument is that the allegations should have been referred to police immediately, and the question is whether members of the clergy who failed to do so have broken the law?

In my blog on 25th June 2012 I argued that managers of priests who failed to report could be successfully prosecuted.

I would argue that the Lynn case highlights the Catholic Church’s broader responsibility for its priests and the children in its parishes, schools, and institutions. It demonstrates clearly the duty of care that is owed by it and its officials. The key points are:

it has to supervise priests

it has to report sexual abuse allegations to the priests

it cannot expose potential victims to the risk of sexual abuse

it does owe a duty of care to the children

Clearly each case is unique and has to be considered on the facts, but the Lynn case helps to focus attention on the Catholic Church’s responsibilities and liability for priests who abuse.

Are you a victim of sexual abuse?

If so remember you are not alone and many victims have successfully obtained justice.

Justice may not always, perhaps, be perfect, but many victims tell me that it is better than none and by securing it they achieved something positive.

I have together with my colleagues at Pannone Solicitors successfully represented victims of child sexual abuse. This is a highly specialised area of law requiring sensitivity, and we are in a position to help and advise victims.

If you have been abused then please contact us, in confidence, and we will listen and answer your questions. This will be free of charge.

I have found time and time again that victims have kept the abuse secret for many years, and they tell me what a relief it has been to relieve themselves of that burden by telling me.