Rape Victims" Parents Say George Pell Vowed to Review Church Compensation Payments

By Hamish Fitzsimmons
ABC News
March 28, 2014

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-28/rape-victims-parents-say-pell-vowed-to-review-church-payouts/5353008

PHOTO Left to right: Emma Foster (6); Aimee Foster (2); mother Chrissie Foster; Katie Foster (4) and father Anthony Foster. Emma and Katie were abused by a Catholic priest from an early age.

Cardinal George Pell has told the parents of two child sex abuse victims the Church will review its compensation payments, even if it costs hundreds of millions of dollars.

Anthony and Chrissie Foster's two daughters were repeatedly raped in primary school by their parish priest, Father Kevin O'Donnell.

Emma Foster later committed suicide and her sister, Katie, took to binge drinking and was left disabled after being hit by a car.

The Fosters met Cardinal Pell after his appearance at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Sydney on Thursday.

This meeting was very different to when the Fosters first met with then Archbishop Pell over a decade ago, when they emerged feeling bullied and scorned.

They went into Thursday's meeting asking for major changes to the Melbourne Response compensation scheme for abuse victims, and Cardinal Pell agreed.

"I'm still sort of in shock about it, this is a complete turnabout," Ms Foster told the ABC's Lateline program.

"This is what we have wanted over the last 18 years. We have been asking to remove the cap and to reassess all those victims who have settled for pittances."

They say George Pell has told them he is personally committed to changing the way abuse victims are compensated.

"I stated that we needed to see the Melbourne cap eliminated, revisiting all the existing claims and in line with civil limits," Mr Foster said.

"I also said to him that this will cost the Catholic Church in Melbourne several hundred million dollars.

"His response was he nodded and said 'yes'."

The discussions have been confirmed by Francis Sullivan from Catholic Church Truth, Justice and Healing Council, who was at the meeting.

"He did give a commitment though that he would speak with the Archbishop of Melbourne and it's the Archbishop of Melbourne and his jurisdiction of course that covers the Melbourne Response," Mr Sullivan said.

Archbishop Denis Hart's office released the following statement:

"I have been informed by Cardinal Pell that he met with Anthony and Chrissie Foster following the conclusion of his appearance on 27 March at the royal commission.

"With the departure arrangements for Cardinal Pell to take up his new position at the Holy See, we have not had an opportunity to discuss in any detail what occurred at the meeting.

"Cardinal Pell did however inform me of the Fosters' wish to meet with me.

"I welcome the opportunity to meet with Mr and Mrs Foster."

Angela Sdrinis, who has represented hundreds of abuse victims, is worried some may get their hopes up.

"Even though this seems to be a gesture of goodwill, which I welcome, unless the changes are supported by legislation or unless there is some independent body which can oversight negotiations with the Church, victims will still be relying on the Church's goodwill," she said.

Payouts under the Melbourne Response are currently capped at $75,000, though the average is much less.

Should the changes go ahead, hundreds of victims will be eligible to seek payouts in line with amounts awarded in civil courts.

Cardinal Pell will soon head to the Vatican to manage the Church's finances.

Watch the full report on Lateline at 10:30pm on ABC1.