AUSTRALIA
Herald Sun
Editorial
AT last, the silent victims of sexual abuse of church clergy and other institutions have been given a unified voice.
The emotional tabling of a parliamentary inquiry into the enduring scandal is a major step forward in preventing and detecting future abuse, identifying risks and, hopefully, in healing.
For decades, lone victims have fought church hierarchy and a fraught legal system for true justice — recognition of the depth of damage caused by paedophile priests let loose on those they were obliged to protect.
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Such were the words of Jesus, in Mark 10:14.
It is a shameful hypocrisy the Catholic and some other church organisations not only allowed this biblical tenet to be systemically and horribly breached, but then worked to cover up abuse and deny victims access to justice or, in some cases, even recognition.
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