Church Vow to Revamp Sex Victims' Program

By Pia Akerman
The Australian
October 3, 2013

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/in-depth/church-vow-to-revamp-sex-victims-program/story-fngburq5-1226731843983

THE Catholic Church has pledged to reform its controversial Towards Healing program for victims of clerical sexual abuse, emphasising greater transparency and independent management of compensation.

The royal commission investigating institutional responses to child sexual abuse has already received numerous submissions from victims' advocates accusing church representatives of undermining victims and taking a defensive or hostile position in meetings.

In its submission to the inquiry, the church's Truth, Justice and Healing Council acknowledged some of the problems and said it was developing proposals for greater oversight of its in-house settlement process.

"The church readily accepts that Towards Healing is not a complete, or perfect, solution for what is a complex and very difficult issue, and that it will inevitably have shortcomings from the perspective of some victims," the council said.

"It is the church's experience, and sincere understanding, that many victims have found the process to be moving, beneficial and healing . . . the church recognises, however, that Towards Healing has not worked as it should have in every case. Some victims have been disappointed, even bitterly disappointed, in the process, because it did not deliver what they were seeking, or was not well handled in some way."

Through Towards Healing, abuse victims meet with church representatives who may offer pastoral care, an apology and reparation payment.

Payment can be withheld unless the victim signs a release precluding any civil claim.

A submission by victims' group Broken Rites describes Towards Healing as a "skilfully operated shop window process" in which victims can be verbally attacked and subtly sabotaged.

It says many victims receive a pre-determined outcome because of private agreements between the church and its insurer that aim to minimise financial payouts by church authorities.

The advocacy group Bravehearts said it saw "no evidence" that Towards Healing had assisted in preventing child sexual assault in the church.

Truth, Justice and Healing Council chief executive Francis Sullivan said the church's leadership had endorsed development of a reform agenda that could see independent compensation commissioners determine payments to victims separate from pastoral responses.