Royal Commission in Canberra

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn
May 26, 2014

http://www.cg.catholic.org.au/news/view_article.cfm?id=722&loadref=16

The way in which Marist Brothers responded to child sexual abuse in schools in the ACT, NSW and Queensland will be the subject of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse’s next public hearing, in Canberra.

The hearing, to be held from Tuesday 10 June, will examine the way the brothers dealt with Brother John Chute (aka Brother Kostka) while he was in a Canberra school.

The commission will also examine abuse perpetrated by another convicted former brother known as KA. The abuse by both brothers took place before 1993.

Truth Justice and Healing Council CEO Francis Sullivan said this latest hearing will require the Marist leadership to explain and to be fully transparent about what happened at the time and about what has been put in place since to ensure the safety of children within their care.

“This latest hearing will again bring into sharp focus the past failing of Catholic Church organisations in dealing with child sexual abuse,” Mr Sullivan said.

“What will also be heard is the major changes that have taken place in schools and other institutions over the past 20 years that have improved markedly on the way survivors of abuse have been treated and child protection is undertaken.”

Included in the commission’s examination will be the response of the NSW Department of Family and Community Services and the reporting to police of the allegations at the time.

The hearing will also examine the settling of compensation claims by Catholic Church Insurance and the Marist Brothers.

Anyone wishing to be part of the hearing can contact the commission through its website.