More and more evidence is emerging to suggest that the highest echelons of the Catholic Church were aware of paedophilia within its ranks.Some of the priests responsible have been brought to justice; the fate of others still, to this day, hang in the balance as the legal profession works its way through the sordid quagmire.
The Catholic Church, while being the most high profile religious institution to be caught up in allegations of paedophilia is, of course, not alone.
But it is the subject of calls for national royal commission into the abuse of children in its care.
The betrayal of trust – of parents who sent their children to school in the belief that they would receive the best possible education; of parents who allowed their sons to become alter boys; and of orphanages that were supposed to ensure the welfare of the abandoned – beggars belief.
This whole affair has been a blight on Australian society, every bit as significant and as tragic
as the Stolen Generation.
It is a wrong that must be righted.
A national royal commission, cutting across the vagaries of some state and territory laws, and with sweeping terms of reference, is warranted and long overdue.
The Australian Lawyers Alliance believes the church need to adequately compensate abuse survivors and their families in order to “to ensure true healing mechanisms are put in place”.
But for some victims, no amount of monetary compensation will make up for past wrongs.
For them, it is about bringing those responsible for the abuse to justice.
The unfortunate thing is that many of the offending priests – and other members of the church hierarchy – have long since died and will face neither a national royal commission nor the justice system.
But for those people who still hold the faith dear to their souls, there remains the hope that even the deceased have already had to face their Maker.