Victim Says a Public Inquiry Needs to Take Place over Clerical Abuse

By Mark Gough
The Itv
July 8, 2013

http://www.itv.com/news/central/2013-07-07/victim-says-a-public-inquiry-needs-to-take-place-over-clerical-abuse/

Sue Cox was abused as a young girl

Sue Cox was abused by a Catholic priest when she was ten - at a religious retreat in Matlock in Derbyshire.

Three years later, she was raped by him.

She now campaigns around the world in support of people who have been abused by clergy from all faiths.

Today the General Synod - the law-making body - of the Church of England is meeting to discuss the question of clerical abuse.

It is expected to agree to apologise for abuse carried out by members of the church.

Sue Cox was at the synod today as an observer - representing her organisation which helps victims throughout Europe.

She believes more should be done - more than an apology.

She said:

Our opinion is that the only answer they can come up with is to support an independent public inquiry because in that way we will know exactly what we are dealing with and we will tell them that the only way to get us on board really is to stand and be counted and to publicly support the idea of a public inquiry.

The General Synod is reflecting and voting on ways forward to tighten up our procedures as well as offering an unreserved apology for the failure of its systems and for the failure to listen properly.