Royal Commission Investigates the Marist Brothers

Broken Rites
May 24, 2014

http://brokenrites.org.au/drupal/node/293

Australia's national Royal Commission is investigating how the Catholic order of Marist Brothers have handled allegations of child sexual abuse in Marist schools. At a public hearing in Canberra (beginning on 10 June 2014), the focus is on Marist Brothers schools in Canberra, New South Wales and Queensland.

The hearing will focus particularly on how the Marists responded to complaints about two Brothers:

Brother John Chute (also known as "Brother Kostka") and

a former Brother who will be referred to by the code name "Brother ZA".

The inquiry will also examine:

Any steps taken by the Marist authorities to report these allegations to the police.

The response of government and other agencies to these allegations.

The settling of compensation claims for victims of Brother Chute and "Brother ZA.".

The Royal Commission says:

Any person or institution who believes that they have a direct and substantial interest in the scope and purpose of the public hearing is invited to lodge a written application for leave to appear at the public hearing by 30 May 2014.

Applications for leave to appear should be made using the form available on the Royal Commission website.

For more information on lodging your submission, send an email to: solicitor@childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au

The public hearing will be streamed live to the public via webcast on the Royal Commission’s website at www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au

Interested individuals and organisations are encouraged to view the proceedings via the webcast on the internet.