CSA national redress Bill, Vatican delegation, Canberra Catholics make submission, Frankly Speaking and more

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Child sexual abuse national redress Bill introduced into Parliament Federal Minister for Social Services, Christian Porter, has introduced the long-awaited Commonwealth Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual abuse Bill 2017 into the Federal Parliament. The proposed legislation will cap payments at $150,000 and will also allow survivors access to counselling and a direct apology from the institution in which the abuse occurred. The Bill is just the start of what is looking to be a long process to get all states, territories and institutions into the scheme. Minister Porter media release 26 October 2017 Commonwealth Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Bill 2017 Minister Porter second reading speech 26 October 2017 Commonwealth releases national redress Bill TJHC media release - 26 October 2017 Australian Jesuits welcome Redress Scheme Media release 31 October 2017 When it comes to redress for child sexual abuse, all victims should be equal The Conversation - 1 November 2017 Calls for states to join redress scheme AAP - 27 October 2017 Child sex abuse proposed redress scheme to cap payments at $150000 and exclude criminals The Age - 27 October 2017     Frankly speaking... Well it has finally arrived! Legislation to construct a redress scheme was introduced into the Commonwealth Parliament late last month. This is a vital first step on what looks to be a long, but hopefully fruitful path. This Commonwealth scheme at present is, however, limited and unsatisfactory. Only 1,000 of the projected 6,5000 victims can have access to the scheme. Clearly that is not what the Royal Commission called for, neither is it what Church leaders and others committed to. Latest from the Council Concerned Catholics step up in Canberra The Canberra Times reports that In a move welcomed by Canberra and Goulburn Archbishop Christopher Prowse, a group of Canberra Catholic have presented a submission to senior clergy ahead of a proposed plenary council for the church in Australia in 2020. It calls for church leaders to establish pastoral councils in the Canberra archdiocese, designed to give parishioners and lay partners an opportunity to participate fully in the response to next month's final report from the landmark royal commission into responses to child sexual abuse. Time to change Canberra's Catholic Church, faithful say Canberra Times - 6 November 2017 Catholic Bishops must reform now to quell exodus Concerned Catholics Media Release 1 November 201o Concerned Catholics Submission 2020 Synod 25 October 2017     Church Culture: Victims of domestic violence told its 'their cross to bear' Pope Francis has denounced domestic abuse as "craven acts of cowardice". But Hayley Gleeson and Julia Baird ask will the Australian Catholic Church have the courage to answer his call and root out the "shameful ill-treatment" of women in its midst? And is its all-male hierarchy, still reeling from revelations of child sexual abuse, capable of leading the charge? 'Their cross to bear': The Catholic women told to forgive domestic violence ABC 3 November 2017 Australian church facing biggest crisis in its history, says Brisbane Archbishop The Archbishop of Brisbane and  Vice President of the Australian Bishops' Conference, Mark Coleridge, says the Church in Australia  is facing the biggest crisis in its history. Archbishop Coleridge told The Tablet that he and fellow bishops were in Rome recently to discuss the fallout of the clerical sexual abuse crisis, and how the Church will adopt a new approach including how to include women in positions of "governance". Australian church facing biggest crisis in its history, says Brisbane Archbishop The Tablet -  9 October 2017 Australian Catholic Church leaders travel to the Vatican for talks NEWS.com.au - 7 October 2017 Australian bishops at Vatican discuss 'restoring trust' Reuters - 7 October 2017 What society can learn from the Catholic Church regarding child protection In the early 2000s, the Catholic Church in the United States was  reeling from a sex abuse crisis when the Boston Globe broke the story of a former priest who was accused of molesting 130 minors, mostly young boys, over the course of more than 30 years. This led to a large-scale uncovering of thousands more allegations of abuse in dioceses throughout the country. Since then, the US Church has put into place numerous policies and practices to protect children from sexual abuse, including the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Charter for Child and Youth Protection. What society can learn from the Catholic Church regarding child protection Catholic News Agency - 2 November 2017 Coming up November 9, Update to MacKillop Family Services Leadership Team Meeting November 13, TJH Council Meeting, Melbourne November 14, Address to Catholic Secondary Principals Australia, Adelaide November 27, Address National Directors of Catholic Education, Sydney December 18, Address Executive Mercy Health Board, Melbourne January 14, Iona College, Queensland February 12, PAVCSS (Parents Victoria), Melbourne February 20, Divine Word Missionaries Provincial Assembly and Chapter, Sydney February 23, QCEC Professional Development Day, Brisbane       Copyright © 2017 Truth, Justice and Healing Council   |   Privacy Policy