...This event has parallels to the treatment of Aboriginals in past Australian history. As society moves forward, it needs to do so with a backward glance.

...While glancing backwards, it also needs to establish an acceptance and an admission of past actions, and not an over-reaction to them: Otherwise Political Correctness adds a farcical and a further demeaning conclusion, as it did in the “Sorry” to Aboriginals.

Thank you Rachael for a very thought-provoking and timely article. It is complemented by an insightful comment by diver dan.

All human organisations reflect the values and understandings of their times. As enlightenment comes to broader society, so it tends to come to those individuals and organisations who have the capacity for reflecting on their attitudes, beliefs and actions, to repent past 'sins' and undertake postitive change.

As a parent of five children now in their thirties I often look back with some distress on some of the flaws I demonstrated in my past parenting style, talk through it with and say sorry to my kids and we move on from there.

I believe we move forward in the best ways if we can acknowledge wrongs, offer what restitution we can and undertake (genuinely) to do things better in future.

Where we often go wrong is if we go too far down the 'I have to make somebody pay' line, or insist on processes that amount to public self-flagellation and severe punishment.

I would expect that the Sisters of the Good Shepherd would also look upon the past practices (sins) of their order with much anguish. I hope and pray that they, and those like Rachael whose lives have been diminished by those past sins, can enter into a process that will bring healing to all.

Thank you, Rachael, for a moving article. I hope that the organisation you mentioned will be presenting evidence to the Royal Commission into abuse of children.
The lives you led must become public, The Good Shepherd nuns will surely feel more honest by facing and making known what happened in these places and you all, of course, should be financially recompensed; no amount can possibly pay for a lost youth and years of slavery, but it may help for your lives now.

@Ian D. I often reflect back on my role as a parent and wonder if there were incidents where I acted in an unfair way that may of had long life affects on my children and I wont rest until I raise it with them to clear the air and apologise to them it allows us all to move on and is very healing. However it is not so simple when you were raised in institutions, we are talking crimes against humanity, children who were abused in every possible way and still bare the physical and emotional scars of these horrific abuses. These abuses were so horrific they left many a child crippled for life and to move on would be great for the abusers and would relieve thier guilt,but where does that leave those who were on the recieving end of these abuses.It is not about revenge it is about righting the wrongs and compensating in what ever way possible to help these victims live a better quality of life and help return to them the dignity and respect that was taken away from them the moment they entered these hell holes.

Finally, thanks for bringing this to the surface, festival at Abbotsford convent. The criminals dressed in holier than thou costumes, were not fit to have young girls in their care, if you went there 'cause you were a ward of the state,there is a paper trail in ward records (Victoria) they had to 1st get the education department to sign an exemption (paper trail within state education department)on arrival at St Helliers gates to hell(abbotsford convent industrial workshop)you left behind your innocent self.