AUSTRALIA
Canberra Times
Christopher Knaus
Lawyers say five former St Edmund’s College students have emerged with child abuse complaints in the past two weeks, after revelations that Catholic officials knowingly allowed two suspected paedophiles to continue teaching.
Porters Lawyers principal Jason Parkinson is now urging other Canberra survivors to come forward, and warns against dealing directly with the Catholic order or with the church’s Towards Healing process.
“When it’s only one person coming forward, the weight of the church is upon that individual,” Mr Parkinson said. “But when his former teachers or former schoolmates can help, it eases the load.”
Two weeks ago, Fairfax Media revealed that officials from separate Catholic orders had turned a blind eye to complaints of abuse about two brothers, allowing them to continue teaching, including eventually in Canberra.
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