Abuse Victims Disappointed, Priest Says

The Sbs
May 27, 2013

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1771440/Abuse-victims-disappointed-priest-says

Victims of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church are disappointed with Cardinal George Pell's response to their plight, says Father Kevin Dillon.

Outspoken Victorian priest Father Kevin Dillon says the victims of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church remain disappointed after Cardinal George Pell said he was sorry for their suffering.

Fr Dillon said church officials "still don't get it" and have failed to introduce practical measures that meet the needs of victims.

"If we had been doing things well then why do we have so many dissatisfied victims?" Fr Dillon told AAP.

Cardinal Pell, Australia's most senior Catholic, told a Victorian parliamentary inquiry on Monday that fear of scandal led to the church covering up sexual abuse by priests.

Fr Dillon said courageous victims had come forward to acknowledge what had happened to them but they had never been asked what the church could do for them.

He said the church had never formed a support group but had counselled each victim separately.

What the victims needed was a meeting place where they could go and talk to each other and remember other victims whose grief had been too much and had killed themselves, he said.

"They need restitution, not just financially, but in terms of getting their lives back," Fr Dillon said.