The First Step Forward in a Long Journey Towards Healing

The Courier
April 3, 2013

http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/1407238/the-first-step-forward-in-a-long-journey-towards-healing/?cs=61


ANOTHER important day in the history of institutionalised sexual abuse was reached yesterday with the first sitting of the royal commission in Melbourne.

As uncomfortable and lengthy as the royal commission is predicted to be, it promises to provide an opportunity for ultimate discovery of the truth.

Through the state government’s own inquiry, Victorians have seen that the impact of institutional sexual abuse continues to adversely affect victims, their families and the wider community. As we have heard in recent months, Ballarat remains an epicentre of the issue.

While the Catholic Church is not the only institution facing scrutiny through the royal commission, its response will be watched with considerable interest.

The church, through its Truth, Justice and Healing Council chief executive Francis Sullivan yesterday suggested it was time for full disclosure: “People have to brace themselves, but the reality is that unless we know what the facts are we won’t be able to get justice for victims. A lot of ordinary Catholics, though, want to see the church stand up here in this process, reveal its story and its truth,” he said.

He also raised a pertinent point in regard to mandatory reporting of abuse.

Simply, there must be a transparent and consistent approach for people in positions of power or roles where abuse can be identified to report incidents where children are at risk.

The complexities of the royal commission go beyond the volumes of complaints and references to abuse which will be made. It will also discover how we deal with the outcomes and how institutionalised abuse can be prevented in the future.

It will be a long process but one that has been long overdue.

Given what has been hidden in the past and the lack of notice society has taken to this most desperate of situations, the royal commission stands as the outstanding opportunity to get the response right.

For the first time, politicians, the public, victims and their families are on the same page – and if any good is to come from this dark period it is that at last our communities can move on as one.