"Eureka Moment" As Abuse Inquiry Goes to Ballarat

By Barney Zwartz
The Age
December 7, 2012

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/eureka-moment-as-abuse-inquiry-goes-to-ballarat-20121207-2b0d0.html

It was "another Eureka stockade moment, a massive day" for Ballarat on Friday as the state inquiry into child sex abuse came to town, one of the worst epicentres for paedophile activity by Catholic clergy, according to survivors spokesman Peter Blenkiron.

"But instead of being about gold and greed and licences, it's about the greed of the Vatican protecting their gold-lined vaults. Rifles were used at the stockade, but we are using truth to fire the bullets."

Today is the first time the parliamentary inquiry into how the churches handled sex abuse has left Melbourne, but there will be more regional visits, including a return to Ballarat next year.

Up to 50 child victims of clergy abuse in the Ballarat diocese have committed suicide.

Philip Nagle, who was abused by a Christian brother when he was nine told the inquiry of being bullied and intimidated into signing an agreement, including a confidentiality clause, when he later brought his case to the church authorities. He said the church lawyer threatened him that if he did not sign, then any compensation claim would be tied up in the courts for years.

"My parents were absolutely devastated. What compensation have they received?"

Mr Nagle said that just because paedophile priests had been charged, it did not mean they should not be charged again when new complaints were brought, and police needed to be better resourced to allow this.

"Every compensation agreement should be reviewed. In doing this it will emerge how much the Catholic Church cared. But it must be carried out by someone other than the church.

"I cannot forget. I cannot forgive. I am a survivor."

Mr Blenkiron, who will give evidence in February, said the Ballarat and District Survivors' Group, now 45 strong, would swell to close to 100 by then, partly boosted by 25 American victims of a priest who was moved to America seven times by then Ballarat Bishop Ronald Mulkearns after abusing children, returning to Ballarat each time after he had to leave the US over abuse allegations there.

Mr Blenkiron said he came to today's hearing to "desensitise" himself, so that he could cope with appearing next year. He has been to several of the Melbourne hearings.

"I cried all through the Fosters (whose two daughters were repeatedly raped by a priest at their primary school)."