A Litany of Abuse and Betrayal

The Australian
November 14, 2013

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/editorials/a-litany-of-abuse-and-betrayal/story-e6frg71x-1226759310945

ENDEMIC criminality and cover-ups warrant strong responses. To that end, the recommendations of the Victorian inquiry into child sex abuse by religious and other organisations should be considered on a national basis by the royal commission into child abuse and by political leaders. The recommendations include lifting the statute of limitations to assist victims, making it an offence to conceal abuse, a statutory body to monitor and audit compliance on child protection requirements, and an independent body to handle victims' claims.

After years of frustration, the Victorian inquiry provided victims with much-needed comfort by hearing and understanding their painful experiences at the hands of clerics and others in positions of trust, especially in the Catholic and Anglican churches and Salvation Army. As one victim said: "Any abuse is dreadful ... but when it happens within the context of the Christian community, it damages your soul ... it attacks your meaning of life."

The behaviour of past church leaders was unconscionable. In 1993, for example, former archbishop Frank Little wrote a letter lauding the services of retired priest Desmond Gannon, when he knew the priest had admitted abusing five or six boys. The worst damage occurred in the decades up to the 1980s, when church responses were condemned as "seriously inadequate and sometimes non-existent". It was for that reason, Cardinal George Pell told the inquiry, he established the Melbourne Response in 1996. It was overseen by independent QC Peter O'Callaghan, an appointment welcomed by police. The inquiry was also scathing about the failure of church leaders in not reporting abuse to police. At that time, however, many victims refused to go to the police.

The inquiry did not cover government organisations, where experience indicates similar problems were rife. And we do not agree with the inquiry's observation that "religious teachings and beliefs" put churches at high risk of their personnel perpetrating abuse.

As well as helping those whose sufferings were ignored, the main value of this inquiry, and of the royal commission, is to ensure better systems in all organisations prevent and deal with abuse. Authorities must never again cover it up. After hard lessons, progress is being made.