Assistance Scheme Urged for Clergy Sex Abuse Victims

ABC News
December 10, 2012

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-10/clergy-abuse-survivor-seeks-victims-assistance/4418040

The Victorian Government's inquiry into sexual abuse by religious and other organisations has been told a financial assistance scheme is needed for abuse victims.

The inquiry held a hearing in Ballarat on Friday.

Peter Blinkiron is a survivor of clergy sexual abuse and told the inquiry a scheme similar to that for injured soldiers should be set up.

He says many abuse victims are struggling to survive.

Mr Blinkiron says the Catholic Church could afford to fund the scheme.

"The way I see it, it would be run by the government and funded via the church, the Vatican," he said.

"Perhaps it's time to scrape some of the gold lining from the Vatican vaults and put it towards the rainy day because the rainy day is here for the church and they need to keep people alive and stop the deaths.

"It's a safety net, so that if people are able to work, they can work, if they fall down they're caught and are able to pay the basic needs, their rent, their food, their kids can be sent to the pictures, they can just do the basic stuff."