Australian sex assault survivor heads to UK to demand justice

He was sadistically raped by a priest Fr Byrne at the age of 11 on school ground during school hours at a Jesuit School in Melbourne, Australia in 1971. He says the impact on his life was tremendous. He was later sent to a Jesuit boarding school, St Ignatius College where he was further vilified and brutalized. He was expelled from two schools, failed the HSC. Suffering the impact of the combination of sexual and spiritual abuse he lost nearly all sense of self worth and self respect. Totally demoralized and unable to cope in society he fled into the desert and as far away as possible where he stayed for years.

While an internal church investigation substantiated his complaint, the Jesuits have dodged dealing honestly and openly with his case. Mark believes the Jesuits know and understand just how to manipulate the legal processes to their advantage and to the disadvantage of sexual abuse victims. There are many circumstances which allow the church in civil and criminal matters to hide behind the law.

For example, under a 2006 Supreme Court of NSW ruling priests are not considered agents of the Church. Ref: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/stories/2010/2834210.htm " Anecdotal evidence suggests there are a lot of victims out there. There is no accountability on part of the Church and there is still no independent investigation into the nature or extent of what can only be described as "organized crime" Mark said.

He notes that in Australia many priest known to be child sex offenders remain in unsuspecting communities. According the an Age newspaper report of April 2010 it is estimated that approx 100 abusive priests who are known to the church authorities remain in the community in Melbourne area alone. Ref http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/300-abuse-cases-one-defrocking-20100421-szz6.html

  "It is obvious that, with this sort of thing happening so recently, no sensible adults should consider children safe from predatory priests and ex-priests. However powerful denial prevalent within the Catholic community, particularly rural communities, is leaving children open to abuse"

Mark Fabbro will also travel to Germany to meet with survivors of Jesuits whose reparations are being delayed. "It looks like these 'men of God' are again and again all over the world having difficulty expressing the 'compassion of Christ' they are so ready to preach" he said.

"It is very important for victims to understand what has happened to them and that it is not their fault. Their guilt and shame belongs with church and not them. Survivors should get help and find healing so they do not suffer in silence or inflict their pain on close ones. SNAP -Survivors Network of those Abused by Priest can help greatly" Mark said.

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