In the Public Interest by Child Abuse Survivors and their Advocates in their Pursuit of Justice, Recognition, Recovery and Redress.
Papal visit to Sydney Australia 2008
Description: Clergy, Spiritual and Sexual Abuse
Article originally prepared on : 08 April 2008
Victims, survivors and the families of Clergy, Spiritual and Sexual Abuse come from all walks of religion across all areas of the country across the entire globe..
There is an increasing number of strongly dissatisfied victims and victim families together with an increasing number of dissatisfied or disaffected groups in many religions attempting to address the issues of Clergy, Spiritual and Sexual Abuse.
The highest perpetrator rate belongs to the Catholic Church in countries spanning the globe. The Catholic Church regularly states that the percentage of perpetrators is less than 1%. Figures from countries such as Italy, Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, United States, Philippines, Brazil, Finland, Germany and many more indicate the percentage as being between 5% to 12%. This would make abusive Catholic priests the largest know paedophile group in history.
The next greatest offender group belongs to the Anglican Church.
Disaffected individuals and groups are found across all walks of Australian life with its effects reaching out and affecting many across the broader community.
When it is understood that many parishioners within religious organisations plead on a daily basis with their superiors to bring about an end to the discrimination and the very high risk of re-traumatising more victims and their families or drive others to suicide. This clearly shows that these entities have been and are unable to self regulate.
| The highest perpetrator rate | | The highest perpetrator rate belongs to the Catholic Church in countries spanning the globe. The Catholic Church regularly states that the percentage of perpetrators is less than 1%. Figures from countries such as Italy, Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, United States, Philippines, Brazil, Finland, Germany and many more indicate the percentage as being between 5% to 12%. This would make abusive Catholic priests the largest know paedophile group in history. |
|
10 years on the ACSJC (Australian Catholic Social Justice Commission) [
website] have provided no statistics, papers or other material in regards the treatment, support and compensation of Clergy, Spiritual and Sexual Abuse abuse victims of the Catholic Church in Australia.
The "Independent Commission into Sexual Abuse" established by the Melbourne Arch-diocese has not released any figures on the numbers of abusive priests in its Diocese, nor does it act as an independent body. The "Independent Commission into Sexual Abuse" is an instrument of the Bishop and/or the Arch-Diocese of Melbourne, it is funded by the Bishop/Arch-Diocese and reports only to the Bishop/Arch-Diocese. Victims of clergy abuse in Australia are left in the situation of having to deal with the same organisation which provide support, funding and legal assistance to abusive priests, nuns and church workers.
Many of the Churchs' own organisations throughout the world appear to be frustrated and embarrassed by the services and support provided and are consistently and specifically denied the ability to act on behalf of Clergy, Spiritual and Sexual Abuse abuse victims - this appears to be standard practice across the globe.
Professional opinions and laity groups in many of these countries abound, stating that current procedures are often more damaging than curative and ask that the Church acts differently.
Counsellors, therapists, psychiatrist and health workers across the globe say the churches need to act in a more appropriate manner.
Police and legal entities across the globe are also frustrated and also say that the process need to change. Churches and religions around the globe should be the ones supporting the removal of the statute of limitations which exist in so many countries.
Parishioners on an International scale say do it differently. A growing number of disaffected people across theses countries are petitioning and campaigning to bring about a halt to the systems which cause further harm to those affected by these abuses.
This all falls on deaf ears again on an International scale and so it properly should be an issue that only our governments can address. With the visit of the Pope in July of this year to Sydney it is appropriate to direct our attention and focus towards the Catholic Church in Australia in an endeavour to have the interest of so many Australians protected at a governmental level.
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The issue of assistance, support and compensation for Clergy, spiritual and sexual abuse committed by 5% to 10% of Catholic priests on hundreds of innocent children over more than half a decade.
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