Child Abuse: 7% of Australian Catholic Priests Alleged to Be Involved BBC News
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2/6/2017 Child abuse: 7% of Australian Catholic priests alleged to be involved BBC News News Sport Weather Shop Earth Travel Child abuse: 7% of Australian Catholic priests alleged to be involved 2 hours ago Australia THINKSTOCK An inquiry examining institutional sex abuse in Australia has heard 7% of the nation's Catholic priests allegedly abused children between 1950 and 2010. In one religious order, over 40% of church figures were accused of abuse. http://www.bbc.com/news/worldaustralia38877158 1/9 2/6/2017 Child abuse: 7% of Australian Catholic priests alleged to be involved BBC News Over 4,440 people claim to have been victims between 1980 and 2015, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse was told. The commission, Australia's highest form of inquiry, is also investigating abuse at nonreligious organisations. It has previously heard harrowing testimony from scores of people who suffered abuse at the hands of clergy. AFP One victim said he was sexually abused by his Catholic Christian Brother teacher in his classroom, with other students ordered to look away. In another case, the inquiry heard allegations that a priest threatened a girl with a knife and made children kneel between his legs. 'Children punished' The full scale of the problem emerged on Monday, when the commission released the statistics it has gathered. Gail Furness, the lead lawyer assisting the commission in Sydney, said more than 1,000 Catholic institutions across Australia were identified in claims of sexual abuse, with a total of 1,880 alleged perpetrators between 1980 and 201 5. The average age of the victims was 10.5 for girls and 11.5 for boys. On average, it took 33 years for each instance of abuse to be reported. http://www.bbc.com/news/worldaustralia38877158 2/9 2/6/2017 Child abuse: 7% of Australian Catholic priests alleged to be involved BBC News AFP The victims' stories were "depressingly similar", Ms Furness said. "Children were ignored or worse, punished. Allegations were not investigated. Priests and religious [figures] were moved. The parishes or communities to which they were moved knew nothing of their past." Anthony and Chrissie Foster, the parents of two girls who were abused by their parish priest, said the Catholic Church had shown "no mercy, no remorse. Nothing." "For so long this has been the way they acted to hide perpetrators, to move them on, with no regard for children whatsoever, that other children have become victims, and suffered this terrible fate," they told ABC news. 'Shocking, tragic, indefensible' The royal commission also detailed the number of abuse claims against 10 religious orders, with data showing that four orders had allegations of abuse against more than 20% of their members. Percentage of church figures behind alleged abuse, 1950 2010 Religious institution Percentage St John of God Brothers 40.4 Christian Brothers 22.0 Salesians of Don Bosco 21.9 Marist Brothers 20.4 De La Salle Brothers 13.8 Patrician Brothers 12.4 http://www.bbc.com/news/worldaustralia38877158 3/9 2/6/2017 Child abuse: 7% of Australian Catholic priests alleged to be involved BBC News Society of Jesus 4.8 Missionaries of the Sacred Heart 3.3 Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart 0.6 Sisters of Mercy (Brisbane) 0.3 Source: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse The royal commission, set up in 2013, is investigating allegations of sexual and physical abuse across dozens of institutions in Australia, including schools, sports clubs and religious organisations. Ms Furness said on Monday that 60% of all survivors of abuse were from faithbased organisations. Of those, nearly twothirds concerned the Catholic Church. Francis Sullivan, chief executive of the Truth Justice and Healing Council, which is coordinating the Catholic Church's response to the inquiry, said the data reflected "a massive failure'' by the church to protect children. GETTY IMAGES "These numbers are shocking, they are tragic and they are indefensible," a tearful Mr Sullivan told the commission. "As Catholics, we hang our heads in shame." The Vatican has watched the proceedings closely. Cardinal George Pell, who was Australia's most senior Catholic before becoming Pope Francis' top financial adviser, has testified at previous hearings about how church authorities responded to allegations of child sex abuse during his time in Australia. Several senior Australian Catholics will be testifying over the next few weeks. The commission's final report is due by the end of this year. http://www.bbc.com/news/worldaustralia38877158 4/9 2/6/2017 Child abuse: 7% of Australian Catholic priests alleged to be involved BBC News Share this story About sharing More on this story Documenting Australia's shame 20 December 2016 Lifting the lid on Australia's child sex abuse 27 September 2015 The Vatican's child abuse response 11 April 2014 Australia Unlocking parking in a busy city centre 6 February 2017 Business http://www.bbc.com/news/worldaustralia38877158 5/9 2/6/2017 Child abuse: 7% of Australian Catholic priests alleged to be involved BBC News Australian dies in Thailand jet ski crash 5 February 2017 Australia Is the US a liability for Australia? 3 February 2017 US & Canada More Videos from the BBC Recommended by Outbrain http://www.bbc.com/news/worldaustralia38877158 6/9 2/6/2017 Child abuse: 7% of Australian Catholic priests alleged to be involved BBC News Women 'told to wear Burn patient Teacher attacks: Punch sheer blouses' as part of compensated over no 'like an out of body a uniform consent operation experience' 'He's lying' sign held Congressman Cramer : Putting the fun into behind Nigel Farage Theresa May 'could be funeral Trump's longlost sister' Elsewhere on BBC Recommended by Outbrain BBC Capital BBC Culture Business Pulse: A Live Infographic Film review: Call Me By Your Name will make you swoon http://www.bbc.com/news/worldaustralia38877158 7/9 2/6/2017 Child abuse: 7% of Australian Catholic priests alleged to be involved BBC News BBC News BBC Culture I'll dress like a woman when you act Eight films to watch in February like a president, police officer tells Trump BBC News BBC Future Jeremy Vine 'road rage' driver could The ‘untranslatable’ emotions you face jail after being found guilty never knew you had Top Stories Restoring travel ban 'will unleash chaos' Lawyers for two US states argue against removing a legal block on President Trump's travel ban. 2 hours ago Catholic church 'abused 4,400 children' 2 hours ago Patriots stun Falcons to win Super Bowl 6 February 2017 ADVERTISEMENT http://www.bbc.com/news/worldaustralia38877158 8/9 2/6/2017 Child abuse: 7% of Australian Catholic priests alleged to be involved BBC News Features & Analysis http://www.bbc.com/news/worldaustralia38877158 9/9.