AUSTRALIA
Gippsland Times
By Fiona Henderson May 27, 2015
UPDATE: GERALD Ridsdale told the Royal Commission on Wednesday crimes reported in confession should be reported to police.
“Well from my experience and what I’ve done, and the damage that I’ve done, I’d say yes definitely,” he said.
“I don’t know what the church ruling or legislation or thought is about that, but that’s my personal opinion.”
EARLIER: Ridsdale said he was molested twice as a child and “sexually tested” by an uncle while giving evidence to the Royal Commission into Institutionalised Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Ridsdale said he was assaulted by an older cousin when they shared a bed when he was eight or nine, and a Christian Brother a few years later.
He also gave evidence that priests had a great deal of community status, and he read a lot of spiritual books when he was growing up.
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