Victims Group Backs Charges against Hunter Priest

ABC News
September 4, 2012

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-05/victims-group-backs-charges-against-hunter-priest/4243578


The founder of an advocacy group for victims of child abuse says she was ecstatic when she heard a Hunter priest had been charged with concealing a sex offender.

"Bravehearts" staff are in the region presenting their education show as part of National Child Protection week.

In an Australian first last week, police charged 74-year-old Father Tom Brennan with failing to report child sex offences committed by a defrocked priest in the 1970s.

"Bravehearts" Executive Director, Hetty Johnston says the charges are a significant step forward which she is hoping will have far reaching implications.

"Absolutely ecstatic, I mean we've had this culture within the Christian organisation for a very long time, and within families, where historically, in order to protect your reputation, you covered this up," she said.

"We need the churches to be transparent.

"I hope that the 'concealment of a crime' legislation goes across the whole of society and not just priests, that that affects mothers and fathers and family members who cover up."

The ABC has been told around a dozen men abused by a Catholic Priest in Newcastle have died prematurely, mainly because of suicide.

Ms Johnston says child abuse takes a horrendous toll on victims.

"Too often when someone sexually assaults a child they're committing murder, it's just that it's taken 20 years of absolute torture and trauma before the person dies," she said.

"And that's the sadness of it.

"It doesn't have to be that way if that person can get help, particularly if, as a child, they are properly responded to, believed, supported and protected."