Victims of sexual abuse by the clergy want a call for an independent inquiry into the handling of their complaints to be read from every Catholic pulpit in Victoria over Easter, reports The Age.
Bryan Keon-Cohen QC, chairman of Commission of Inquiry Now (COIN), has written to every parish priest in the state asking them to read the letter during Easter services - mimicking 80,000 letters opposing same-sex marriage sent by Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart and five other bishops to Victorian Catholics last weekend.
Mr Keon-Cohen's letter asks priests to distribute a COIN donation form to parishioners.
Asked whether his request was a bit cheeky, Mr Keon-Cohen said: ''Why not? You've got to think laterally. If letters are being read about gay marriage, it shows churches are proper places to debate public policy.''
The COIN letter - sent to nearly 400 Melbourne and Ballarat parishes on Tuesday, with the rest of the state to follow - asks parishioners to lobby the Church hierarchy to support an independent inquiry.
FULL STORY
Sex victims urge clergy to read letter at Easter (The Age)
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