Vic Police Says Catholic Church More Worried about Pr Than Sex Abuse Victims

By Simon Lauder
ABC - PM
October 19, 2012

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-19/vic-police-says-catholic-church-more-worried-about/4323798?section=vic

[with audio]

One of Victoria's top police officers says the Catholic Church is more interested in protecting its reputation than helping victims of sexual abuse. Deputy Police Commissioner Graham Ashton has told a Victorian parliamentary inquiry he won't believe that the church's priorities have changed until it starts reporting sex abuse cases to authorities.

Transcript

BRENDAN TREMBATH: One of Victoria's top police officers has accused the Catholic Church of being more concerned about its reputation than the interests of sexual abuse victims.

The Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Graham Ashton told a State Parliament inquiry the church's lack of cooperation and its internal system for dealing with abuse claims is hindering police investigations and helping to hide the problem.

He says until the church starts reporting abuse allegations to police he doesn't have any faith that it's serious about tackling the problem.

Simon Lauder reports from Melbourne.

SIMON LAUDER: Opening the inquiry into abuse within religious organisations, committee chair Georgie Crozier promised the inquiry is not intent on singling out any institution.

One of the first witnesses to give evidence, Deputy Police Commissioner Graham Ashton, made it clear that his focus is firmly on the Catholic Church, which, from his description, is in a type of exclusion zone.