Churches, Scouts and YMCA join Australian abuse redress plan

By Rod Mcguirk
Associated Press via BostGlobe
June 01, 2018

https://bit.ly/2HjW7Qb

Four in five victims of child sexual abuse in Australian institutions will be eligible for compensation after three churches, the Scouts movement, and the YMCA joined a federal government redress plan, an official said Thursday.

The Catholic Church, Australia’s largest denomination, on Wednesday became the first nongovernmental institution to commit to the $2.9 billion national plan.

The Anglican Church, Salvation Army, Scouts Australia, and the Young Men’s Christian Association, or YMCA, committed to join on Thursday.

Flanked by representatives of the churches and associations, Social Services Minister Dan Tehan said their participation meant that 80 percent of Australia’s 60,000 known victims were now covered.

‘‘Can I thank the institutions who are here with us today for the leadership that they have shown, for owning up to past wrongs, for owning up for behavior which can only be described as despicable and deplorable . . . for wanting to turn a page, to provide redress and make sure that those survivors get the justice that they deserve,’’ Tehan said.

The Catholic Church estimates it will be liable for about $757 million in compensation.

Archbishop of Adelaide Philip Wilson last week became the most senior Catholic cleric in the world to be convicted of covering up child sex abuse. He faces a two-year prison term.