Lawyers up in arms over church caps on sex abuse compensation

By Dan Box
Australian
August 14, 2014

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/in-depth/lawyers-up-in-arms-over-church-caps-on-sex-abuse-compensation/story-fngburq5-1227023560947

THE Catholic Church’s decision to renounce its support for unlimited financial compensation for child sexual abuse has ­provoked a furious response from victims, with the national lawyers’ body also describing the proposals as “bullying”.

In a submission to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse this week, the church contradicted its previous calls for an ­independent national body able to award uncapped payments to victims.

The Australian Lawyers Alliance criticised the submission, which said payments should be capped “in line with community standards” and that victims who accept such compensation should surrender their right to sue the church, describing it as “extremely flawed”.

National president Andrew Stone was concerned about the suggestion that any scheme could reduce the role played by lawyers.

“No lawyers is code for church power over victims,” Mr Stone said.

“This is exactly the sort of bullying behaviour that occurred in the past.”