Catholic priests abusing children is a well-known controversy, but many fail to realize the scope of the issue.
Australian officials found that between 1950 and 2015, 7 percent of Australian priests from 75 Catholic churches sexually abused children. According to the report, out of 1,880 alleged perpetrators, there were 693 non-ordained religious, 572 priests, 543 lay people, and 72 unknown religious affiliations. In some churches, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found over 40 percent of priests abused children. This includes the order St. John of God Brothers.
Nearly 4,500 victims came forward for the study. On average, females were 10.5 and males were 11.5 at the time of their abuse. Although most of the incidents occurred in the ‘50s and ‘60s, Church official Francis Sullivan said the numbers are shocking.
“They are tragic. They are indefensible,” he said. “The fact that child sexual abuse has been perpetrated by those holding privileged positions of trust with the Church…is a tragedy in itself.”
Despite the tragedy in Australia, other reports show church-related sexual abuse is a global epidemic. Furthermore, these reports stem from Ireland, Brazil, the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States — where it took 34 years for Boston officials to condemn sexual abuse in the Catholic church.
All things considered, Senior Counsel Gail Furness said victims’ stories were “harrowing.” After allegations ensued, many accused priests moved where people did not know their crimes.
“The accounts were depressingly familiar,” she said. “Children [who came forward] were ignored, or worse, punished. Allegations were not investigated. Documents were not kept or they were destroyed. Secrecy prevailed, as did cover-ups.”
Accordingly, the Royal Commission will hold a public hearing in Sydney later today. The hearings will likely last the next month and include testimonies from six archbishops. Archbishop Denis Hart said the hearing will likely be difficult and even distressing.
“Deeply mindful of the hurt and pain caused by abuse, I once again offer my apology on behalf of the Catholic Church,” he said.
