Not sure the covered up version is any better, … given what’s under there.
Another church cover-up
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You deserve the clap for that…
They should turn it into a fountain…
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Oh my
That tool Hart shifting all the blame on Archbishop Little. Not excusing Little , but Hart knew too and did no go to police. Hart whiteanted the more liberal approach of Little when he was his subordinate,
That is precisely what happened in Ballarat . Mulkearns was not the only one who knew.
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It’s easy to shift blame to those who are deceased.
Wasn’t Little EFC #1 ticket holder back in the day?
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Think you are right - Was it in the late 70’s or early 80’s.
How on earth did the Freemasons allow that?
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EVIL churches will be forced to pay up!
From the ABC site:
Sexual abuse survivors in Victoria to be able to sue churches as Government moves to end ‘Ellis defence’
Survivors of sexual abuse will soon be able to sue churches in Victoria, as the State Government moves to close a legal loophole.
Currently, laws in the state prevent victims from being able to take legal action against some non-incorporated organisations, like churches.
Attorney-General Martin Pakula said the new legislation was in response to a key recommendation from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
A bill will be introduced into State Parliament in the first half of the year, he said.
“We’re developing legislation to overcome the so-called Ellis defence, in response to key recommendations of the Betrayal of Trust report and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse,” Mr Pakula said in a statement.
“The Ellis defence has prevented victims from being able to sue some non-incorporated organisations on a technicality.”
“Since October we have been consulting closely with victim survivor groups, the courts, the legal profession and religious bodies and we intend to introduce legislation in Parliament in the first half of this year.”
The ‘Ellis defence’ refers to a 2007 legal case brought against the Catholic Church by John Ellis, a survivor of child sexual abuse.
A lawyer, Mr Ellis tried to sue the church for damages, but the case was dismissed after the court found the church did not legally exist because its assets were held in a trust that was protected from legal action.
The royal commission recommended state and territory governments introduce legislation that allowed survivors of abuse to sue an institution with a property trust for damages when it has sufficient assets.
In a similar finding, the Betrayal of Trust report, resulting from a state inquiry, recommended the Victorian Government consider requiring non-government organisations to be incorporated and adequately insured if the state provides them with tax exemptions or other entitlements.
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I don’t by into the judgement later philosophies of the Catholic Church but I’m glad Pell is to face up to these allegations in this life and not in some fantasy existence later on.
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Pell seeking separate trials for the Ballarat and Melbourne charges, twenty years apart. The Ballarat ones are going to be rough on the witnesses.
All the serious allegations have been thrown out.
And from what I understand the other allegations are on the very minor scale.
Would be stunned if he was found guilty of any of them.
I would also not be surprised if there was not some sort of appeal in the works given the magistrates seemingly close relationship with Louise Mulligan.
So, just the minor cases of child abuse then?
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There are scales of criminality you realise.
Should not be that hard to get your head around.
Besides which some of the allegations border on the incredulous.
Don’t be an ■■■■. It was a poor choice of words from you. All allegations of child sexual assaults are serious.
■■■■ off. You’re a repeated apologist for this child molester. That’s all the response you’re worthy of.
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Richter apologised to the magistrate for accusing her of bias.
As the criminal standard of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt for proving ( not laying) charges, the witnesses - particularly in the Ballarat case involving multiple complaints- are going to be torn apart.
Don’t know whether our system would allow for a civil case, along the lines of the successful case against OJ Simpson, where the standard of proof was lower.
Whatever the outcome of the criminal cases, Pell stands condemned for allowing proven cases of child abuse to continue under his watch and for implementing the Melbourne response, which wrecked an Australia wide approach by the church. He would also have ticked off on the Ellis defence.
Just ask the Foster family whether they think child abuse is minor.