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Vic group wants independent inquiry letter read out at Easter

Published: April 04, 2012

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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Recent Comments

  1. '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".'
    There is no debate required: Archbishop Denis Hart has already openly welcomed any enquiry.

  2. I'm not against an inquiry, the problem has come too close to be comfortable when I have lived in other places.
    But, would it not be better to allow those priests and faithful who have not directly offended, but have also felt betrayed, sometimes by close friends, to celebrate Easter as the joyful occasion it is?
    Let's all pray together trusting the Lord will make sure what is right happens.

  3. I just wonder if Jesus could be joyfully celebrating anything while just outside His own door there were people crying and knocking for justice.

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