Melbourne News

Facing the Truth

Friday 21 September 2012

THE Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart, announced on behalf of the leaders of the Catholic Church in Victoria that today they would lodge the Church’s submission, Facing the Truth, to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and other Non-Government Organisations.

The Archbishop said that the Church will co-operate fully with the Inquiry, and that “in Facing the Truth we have been open about the horrific abuse that has occurred in Victoria and elsewhere.”

“The submission shows how the Church of today is committed to facing up to the truth,” the Archbishop said, “and to not disguising, diminishing or avoiding the actions of those who have betrayed a sacred trust.”

“We acknowledge the suffering and trauma endured by children who have been in the Church’s care, and the effect on their families. We renew our apology to them.

“In the submission we provide details of the structure and governance of the Church, and of the many layers of authority and responsibility in dioceses, parishes, and religious orders and institutes.”

The Archbishop said that the submission shows how the Church has learned from past failures and changed the way it deals with victims and offenders.

“This includes the changes in approach since the 1980s, when the Church began to develop policies and procedures that would give direction and support to dioceses and religious institutes in dealing with child sexual abuse,”he said.

“This led to the Archdiocese of Melbourne introducing the Melbourne Response and Towards Healing being adopted elsewhere, to protect children and vulnerable persons against sexual abuse, and take action against abusers.

In the past 16 years, about 620 cases of criminal child abuse have been upheld by the Church in Victoria. Most claims relate to incidents from 30 and up to 80 years ago.  The Church has received very few complaints of abuse that has taken place since 1990. 

The Archbishop said victims are strongly encouraged to go to the police, victims and their families are supported, and abusers are dealt with while being afforded natural justice.

“When police commence an investigation, the Church takes no further steps until the investigation and any resulting proceedings are completed,” the Archbishop explained.

“We look to this Inquiry to assist the healing of those who have been abused, to examine the broad context of the Church’s response, especially over the last 16 years, and to make recommendations to enhance the care for victims and preventative measures that are now in place,” Archbishop Hart said.

The Inquiry has stated that it will publish submissions on its website. Once the Church submission is published it will be available in full.

Read in full the Archbishop’s announcement on behalf of the leaders of the Catholic Church in Victoria