Catholics lift sexual abuse pay
Oh no doubt if you have been holding back and waiting for the compensation to rise, you’d be delighted that the catholic church in Melbourne has decided to lift the payout by 50%. Woo bloody hoo.
Archbishop Hart told The Age yesterday: “We want to be compassionate. With time, these things need to be reviewed, and that’s what we’ve done.”
He wants to be compassionate? So, wait until the majority of cases has been through their crappy compensation panel and then raise the money paid out? Will you be backdating payments? No, didn’t think so.
In the Law Report it is claimed that the catholic church has set itself up in such a way that it can’t be sued. How’s that for compassion. They care, oh yes, they care but can’t be held responsible because there is no legal identity to be held accountable.
Many churches, including the catholic church and the uniting church, have organised their affairs so that the only legal entity that exists in these religious associations, is a property trust. And that property trust is incorporated for the sole purpose of owning and disposing of property and managing the financial affairs of the church.
The High Court has actually determined that you can’t hold a property trust accountable for the actions of priests.
So, you can’t sue them, but they’ve been oh so kind to set up a process on their terms to provide compensation. You have to follow their rules to get the money, there is no legal recourse if you don’t agree with them. The whole process appears to be tilted their way.
What a crock. Tax the bastards out of existence.