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A lawyer representing 45 victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy is calling for a Royal Commission following a police report linking dozens of suicides to sexual abuse by clergy.
Most cases concern sexual abuse by Catholic brother, Robert Best and former priest Gerald Ridsdale.
“An inquiry would horrify the community”, Vivian Walker told the Australian.
Dr Walker said “there has been an epidemic of abuse going on for a long time and the church has shown a great reluctance to do anything about it.”
“The Christian Brothers were aware of the problem and they did nothing about it.”
The Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart, said the Archdiocese has good relations with the Police and promises the Archdiocese will cooperate fully should there be an enquiry.
“I reject absolutely the allegations that the Melbourne Archdiocese has covered up crimes,” Hart told journalists.
Archbishop Hart said the church encouraged abuse victims to go to police but respected their right to privacy.
“Whilst it is understandable police want all crimes reported, the church had to weigh this against the right of each victim to make their own decision,” he said.
“I believe the whole trauma of the abuse and behaviour of the individuals who are the abusers have wrecked people’s lives. It’s been very difficult for us … to arrest that,” Hart said.
“That is a source of continued pain to me.”
Calls for an enquiry grew on the basis of a report released by Victorian police that details suicides of at least 40 people sexually abused by Catholic clergy.
There have been “an inordinate number of suicides which appear to be a consequence of sexual offending,” Detective Sergeant Kevin Carson wrote in his report.
Despite mounting pressure, Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu said he is not yet ready to order an enquiry into what he called “very disturbing claims.”
Baillieu said the possibility of an enquiry was on the Victorian Government’s agenda; however he was not prepared to preempt the decision of the Victorian Attorney General.
Deputy Commissioner Graham Ashton said a submission based on those reports would recommend that the coroner examine the suicides and the response of the church to both the abuse and its aftermath.
Mr Ashton said police were compiling more detailed documents for consideration by the coroner.
“The coroner will examine the broader nature of those suicides and their relevance in relation to the Catholic Church,” he told reporters in Melbourne.
“It will be a matter for the coroner as to what she does.”
Mr Ashton said it is not fair to say the Catholic Church has been holding things back when they have been asked for them, but, he said, Police believe the onus is on the Church, when they see matters, to let the Police know about them rather than waiting for victims to come to the Police.
Representatives of the Christian Brothers movement were unavailable for comment.
Sources
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