Churches Back Child Abuse Inquiry

ABC News
November 12, 2012

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-13/churches-back-royal-commission/4368106?section=tas


The Catholic and Anglican churches in Tasmania have promised to cooperate fully with a Royal Commission into the handling of child sexual abuse claims.

The Prime Minister says the national inquiry will focus on abuse in church groups, schools and state care providers.

The Archbishop of Hobart, the Most Reverend Adrian Doyle, says it has been a problem in the Catholic Church and he hopes the inquiry will provide some resolution for victims.

He says the Church must now face up to past shortcomings.

"I think it will give us the opportunity to show what has been done and also if there are shortcomings, well, we have to acknowledge and accept them," he said.

"If the responses were slow that maybe what the case was in the past, well that has to be acknowledged."

The Anglican Archbishop of Tasmania, the Right Reverend John Harrower, says his church has already examined the issue but he welcomes more scrutiny.

"Sadly child sexual abuse is an ill in Australian society," he said.

"It's through some of our most trusted institutions, such as the church such as education facilities, such as child organisations throughout our society.

"It is a terrible terrible thing that should never ever happen and I fully support the Prime Minister's call and am very grateful to her."

A Tasmanian victims' support group has welcomed the inquiry but says it is too late.

Beyond Abuse spokesman Steve Fisher says there should have been a Royal Commission 10 years ago.

"However it's being done now, it's too late but I think people will be shocked to the core when they hear what comes out of this Royal Commission," he said.

Mr Fisher wants the inquiry to consult people who have worked with victims of sexual abuse.

Joel Harvey received compensation after being abused when in the care of the Uniting Church at Devonport.

The 33-year-old says it is about time an inquiry was undertaken.

"It'll shake out these little nooks and crannies to stop people from hiding and hiding their relations, hiding their relatives and hiding their associates from this sort of heinous crime and heinous behaviour."

Govt support

The Tasmanian Government has welcomed the Royal Commission.

The Federal Government will consult stakeholders, including state governments, over the next few weeks before announcing the terms of reference.

The Premier, Lara Giddings, was asked in parliament whether the Government would comply with any requests from the Royal Commission for state-based enabling legislation.

Ms Giddings says the Government will look at what it can do to help the investigation.

"We will, of course, look at what we need to do to assist in a Royal Commission of that nature as well and we're very proud of the work we've already done in relation to children that were abused in our own state care," she said.

"In fact, we're the only state, I believe, that has had some level of compensation provided and acknowledgement, real acknowledgment, provided to those children."