AUSTRALIA
Sky News
Victims of the worst clergy abuse in Australia’s history want church leaders to be held accountable.
Lawyer and Monash University doctoral researcher Judy Courtin says the fact church figures who covered up abuse have not been held accountable adds to the harm to victims.
‘The ongoing response of the church, which is one of contempt or disdain, is causing ongoing harm to the victims,’ Ms Courtin told AAP in Ballarat.
Ms Courtin, who has worked closely with abuse survivors in the Ballarat diocese and conducted wider research into justice for clergy abuse victims, said survivors want the whole truth to come out that goes further than what the offenders themselves did.
‘It was much more important to have accountability of the hierarchy on the concealing than accountability of the offender,’ she said.
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