Lawyers preparing class action against Catholic Church over paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale

ABC News
April 9, 2014

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-09/lawyers-preparing-class-action-over-paedophile-priest/5377440

Lawyers are preparing to launch a class action against the Catholic Church on behalf of the victims of paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale.

Ridsdale was sentenced to eight years in jail on Tuesday for abusing 14 children over three decades.

The 80-year-old pleaded guilty to the charges, which included raping and abusing children as young as four.

The sentence adds three years to the jail term he is already serving for offences committed against dozens of girls and boys in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

Lawyer Vivian Waller will represent at least 20 people in a claim against the Diocese of Ballarat.

"(We'll be) noting indeed that the Archdiocese of Melbourne knew since 1975 that Ridsdale was a sexual offender and failed to report these matters to the police or even to take Ridsdale out of circulation and contact with children," she said.

Ms Waller says it will be the first test of Cardinal George Pell's commitment to make the church less hostile to claims from victims of sexual abuse.

"Victims are tiring of going to the church cap-in-hand asking for handout," she said.

"I would call on the Catholic Church of Australia to adopt a unified approach and put out a statement so that victims know where they stand and just simply say we will no longer rely on the Ellis defence."

Frances Sullivan, from the Catholic Truth, Justice and Healing Council, says the church has already made a fairly emphatic statement.

He says churches have been ordered to make available a legal entity which can be sued.

"In other words when people want to bring a claim of damages against the church, that there would be a clearly-identified legal entity," he said.

"That legal entity would be backed by insurance and indemnity."