NEW ZEALAND
Stuff
[with video]
FLORENCE KERR
June 12 2016
A Catholic Church rape survivor has slammed church policy of not informing police when the church gets a complaint of sexual abuse.
Ann-Marie Shelley, 60, was raped by former Catholic priest Peter Hercock in the 1970s. Hercock was jailed for six years and seven months in May 2016. She was paid $25,000 by the church.
Shelley was horrified that a 59-year-old woman used fake documents to support her claim that she was raped by a priest to gain access to the church’s wealth, receiving $188,190.17, before the church became aware of the fraud.
“What this woman did is despicable,” she said. “She makes it difficult for other survivors to come forward because they will fear they won’t be believed.”
But while she condemned the fraud, she equally believes the church should have reported the abuse allegation to police.
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