Nice one. The double standards that religions expect is unacceptable.
It seems they still have plenty of friends in high places though as both major parties seem to pander to the secretive lobby groups. Internet censorship is about the only Labour policy that the Libs have not opposed vigorously.
Whilst overt child abuse is plainly evil (to this secularist anyway), I believe the impact on early education is almost as bad. They are teaching hate politics and deliberately trying to bind children's thought patterns. Rather than develop a keen BS detector and a wide world view, the early religious schools are teaching the inherent "evil" of certain groups and they are being lied to about what science is and how it works. Thankfully kids are very good at getting round obvious BS...but the harm it does is huge....and one a modern Australia cannot really afford!
The Law is a tangled mess, but 2 simple changes could fix most of the issues: 1) Remove all traditional religious influence: Canon Law has the same status as Sharia Law in a secular society:none. 2) End the War on Drugs...this billion dollar black industry kills more kids and corrupts society more than even religious groups can manage. The sort of illogic that religion entails is necessary to believe that all the crime, corruption and increased usage are worth "sending the right message".
Drug profits are to police what little boys are to priests.

I cant find the article that has been written?

Graham will need to inform Max that he forgot to attach his article Gothesca.

Those who hid these predominant homosexual priests should be brought to justice just like the DCD mob who sent back the young aboriginal girl into the community where she was packed raped. The crimes are the same but no convictions. Repeat child abusers should be castrated.

"Eminent family law legal expert claims sex offenders should be allowed to adopt"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/eminent-family-law-legal-expert-claims-sex-offenders-should-be-allowed-to-a

If mothers can kill their children in their wombs up until nine months
and
If children can be artificially created with no natural right to a mother and a father purely to satisfy the desires of homosexuals
then
why shouldn't child molesters be allowed to adopt children?

It's their "fundamental human right".

People need to move with the times
or
at least show a little consistency.

OZANDY... are you serious about opposing Child abuse?

I support you in this. There are a couple of levels here.

1/ When the Church (or organisation) has a dogmatic/belief system which opposes child abuse....but there individual members of such a body go against those beliefs or dogma's and committ such abuse.

This is the situation where Churches experience priests or officials who committ such sin and breaches of the law.

2/ Then there is the level where child abuse is PART and PARCEL of the belief system of a religious body.

Are you brave ? do you have around 5 minutes? do you care?

Try this.

Read the Quran chapter 65 v 1-5 that's it...just 5 verses. Doesn't take long.

Do you notice anything strange? see the bit about 'those who have not yet menses'?

Now...that you've spent around 3 minutes....go the extra 2 and read the 'meaning' of verse 4 here.

http://www.quranenglish.com/tafheem_quran/065.htm

Scroll to '65:4' in the midst of some Arabic writing.

Now scroll further to *13 which is an explanatory note to the part of the verse indicated by that number.

Read the whole paragraph signified by that number.

Do you see my point ?

Of course those that abuse children should be prosecuted.

The question I ask, is not FGM abuse of female children? It is against the law in all states and yet not one person has been charged with any offence. Not to even mention those that know about it and have not reported it to the police.

The evidence is there, from records at hospitals where some of the victims have been treated for shock, bleeding and infection.

It looks like we will have to wait untill a couple of little girls actually die before any action at all is taken.

How can we condone such breeches of the law?

The parents of these little girls have protection of their 'culture' but if I get caught for DUI it would be less than useless for me to argue that it is part of my Aussie 'culture' to drink alcohol. This means that certain people get a cultural advantage by being immune from the law.

One of the more serious forms of child abuse comes from low wages, loud music, chunk food,
childrens Tv, gossip magazine industry, video games etc etc.
Any department want to do something about that ? Anyone in one of those industries wanna do something ? How about Government using the collected fines for helping low paid parents to give their children some hope ?

I think it should not matter about the religion and taxing them. What matters more than anything is actual serving prison sentences from those who commit a crime like child abuse. Lets face it no need to hold back it is child sex abuse.

Catholic priests are the main focus lately due to the recent amount of people who have been abused have come forward and told their stories. It is not just catholic priests who have committed this crime. It is not homosexuals priests either as that has nothing at all to do with pedophilia or sex abuse. It is a system that is in place that encourages inequality between the sexes. A power and control relationship develops. This has nothing at all to do with religion it has more to do with people who have these issues and a severe sickness. These people are drawn to where they can have access to children/teenagers. Churches, schools, hospitals, social clubs are just to name a few.

Cover ups have occurred in every part of every institution that exists in society it is not just the catholic church.

Taxing these people or the church will not help, it is about exposing the abusers from where ever they may come from and them receiving the justice they so rightly deserve.

I feel that this article while has pointed out some issues in our laws in Australia has missed the point or maybe I have. Child abuse is damaging for society, the person who has been abused for starters.

I feel this issue needs to be addressed correctly by religion and other institutions as well as on all government levels. Just going after the abuser is not enough more help and support is needed for the people who have been affected.

With the recent findings that the Catholic church has been covering up abuse then of course all those involved need to be held accountable. Learn about the effects of child sexual abuse from authority figures.

One only has to read the horror stories from Ireland's Commission of Inquiry into Child Abuse to realise that the Catholic Church is an organisation of monumental evil, evil which goes right to the absolute apex of the organisation, the Pope.

The Catholic Church should be banned as a criminal organisation, its leaders charged and tried for concealing evidence of a crime, and its assets seized and used to pay its countless victims.

Ah, but the apologists will no doubt say, what of the Church's good works?

Well, how many charitable acts are adequate excuse for the rape and torture of even one child, let alone thousands, if not millions?

Clownfish, there is no excuse at all for any form of child abuse none at all. I agree with the things that you have said.

The amount of abuse that many underwent in Australia the orphan, the children that were given up for adoption by their families, many of the ones that ended up in care for various reasons is just so horrible to even think about. Many of these places were run by the catholic church. Many of the priests or monks and even nuns who committed crimes against innocent children and people were sent to other places around the world or they were allowed to retire back in Ireland.

The Catholic Church is one of the most patriarchal organizations that exist today in the world. They are allowed to discriminate against anyone they so choose to and are able to dismiss all the anti discrimination laws. There should not be any exceptions, for those who are Christian stand up and realise the harm that has been caused and allowed to continue because people ignore what is directly in front of them. The church is harmful and it encourages, the mistreatment of women and children and those who are vulnerable.

With great power comes great responsibility it is about time the Catholic Church stood up and took some. Other churches and organizations need to do a similar thing to stamp out the horrors of child abuse.

I agree wholeheartedly Gothesca - with the inclusion that all Australians [the law, Government and citizens] whether religious or not need to petition for charges to be laid of those criminals, particularly in the catholic church and other criminals who in the past were placed on pedestals.

Petitions may be the only way of exerting pressure for those to be made accountable.

Aside from the accountability - lawyers, judges and the legal fraternity will love the capital coming their way over the next few years if and when charges are laid.

the unfortunate downside and one in which all taxpayers will be paying. The primary consideration is for criminals to be locked up and realise to what extent their crimes had on so many victims [many now adults] and their families.

I was under the impression that all child abuse was legally supposed to be reported now? Are church organisations exempt then?

With all the current mass reporting of child sex abuse within the Irish Catholic Church at present, I sincerely hope that the land that spawned thousands of priests and sent them all over the world, will now do the right thing and throw the book at all involved.

The Irish people have at last seen the light and realise that the Catholic Church hierarchy and staff are not 'gods' and are not beyond reproach anymore.

Perpetrators of child sexual abuse should be treated harshly, no matter who they are. However, I believe that those people in positions of authority, or those that put themselves out there as 'pillars of society' or 'God's word here on earth' should receive even more harsh penalties.

Having had some experience in seeking redress for former child 'inmates' of Queensland children's institutions, almost all of whom suffered some form of abuse - the mildest being deprivation of food, the most severe being physically and sexually abused to the point of death - from babies to 18 year olds.

I found that dealing with the Churches on behalf of victims was quite difficult, the worst being the Salvation Army, which has spent more on defending itself and hiring very expensive law firms to threaten former victims for speaking out, than it has in compensating its former child victims. The SA ran some of the most abusive, violent and child crushing institutions in Queensland and I understand the situation wasn't much different in other states.

Abuse in State-run children's institutions was widespread and horrific as well. Are readers aware that there was an inquiry into criminal abuse at a certain state children's facility in QLD, an Inquiry conducted by a former magistrate named Heiner whilst Wayne Goss was Premier? The Inquiry findings and the evidence given never saw the light of day because Goss's chief of staff, an ambitious Labour Party functionary named Kevin Rudd destroyed all documents, leaving no trace. This destruction became known as 'Shreddergate'.

Why? Because it is believed the findings implicated a lot of unionists and Labourites in crimes against children. I, and many others, wanted to puke when Rudd became PM, and are still upset he's on the world stage as the FM. You think foreign leaders don't know this? It will be in their briefing notes. K Rudd, the paedo's friend.

It's not just the 'Churches' who have a lot to answer for; look at our own politicians more closely.

RichardJoachim....you have identified a critical issue.

//Why? Because it is believed the findings implicated a lot of unionists and Labourites in crimes against children.//

The issue of blunting critism, deflecting legal action, and protecting entities (Church's/Politicians/Unions) is the same for all segments of the community, including yours.

But the universality of the problem is a glaring testimony that the source here is ourselves. At the root of such intrigues and self protection is sin... yep..*SIN* with a capital "s".

The solution to that problem is a)Repentance b)forgiveness and c) Renewal in Christ.

The real 'Church' is that Body of believers who are not beholden to a beaurocratic structure like some of the major denominations mentioned.

Some of them attend regular services..others meet in homes. They don't run "institutions" ...they do however reach out to people and seek to be an instrument of healing...emotional, physical and spiritual.

@ RichardJoachim I had heard that. I know of a person who was in institutions in Queensland, they have been so damaged they struggle everyday. I agree that governments, churches and other places are responsible. My thing was not to just focus on gunning for the catholic church.

I think people do because it appears to be a easy target. People focus on priests who cant marry so they turn to harming and abusing children. Reality is abuse can be found in all parts of society to the same degree of harm.The catholic church do not have the monopoly on child sex abuse or abuse

Rudd is at the centre of much from the Goss years. It was him who assisted Scripture Union into its then monopoly position of supplying 'chaplains' to state schools.

Now there are three other suppliers, two also xtian, one Buddhist.

Yes, the Heiner Affair has long been a sorry episode in Qld, and few know the truth still.

Sure, it's not just the Vicar of God who has condoned the abuse of children, the Salvo's have only recently 'apologised' for their crimes just the other day, and still no General languishing in a jail for it either.

There is another time bomb brewing too, with the fostering of children.

This has become a rich source of income for fundie families, who fill their houses with their own children, and the wards of the state, and impose their religious views on them for all they are worth, under the tender bleatings of 'love'.

It's all too shameful to even think about, but one day we will be hearing 'apologies' for them too.

Pathetic, isn't it?

Society would benefit more if there was no child abuse.The amount of money that is used to clean up the mess left behind by various people who abuse is unfathomable.

Why is it not clear cut? you abuse a child and are found to be the one responsible you do the time in jail.

Society is left with devastating consequences, some are criminals in jail who possible if they had not been abused would not have turned to drugs and alcohol to cover up the pain. Some are people who struggle in their regular lives and looked down upon because they have not had the chance to attain meaningful or decent employment. Many suffer mental anguish anxiety and depression. This clearly needs to be addressed and people in society need to realise they are able to do something positive about this. Just by educating themselves on abuse and the dire effects. People may protest in their cities over abortion rights and most recently freedom of speech wikileaks saga.

How many have stood up and had a rally and protested about the abuse endured by many children or adults. Writing to your MP and ask what is being done about such and such a situation. Holding all people accountable this includes the various religions and government organizations. As I have mentioned just focusing on the catholic church or religious people will not solve things it will look like a witch hunt. I am sure there are many who are involved in various religious places who Your reply did not process correctly. Please REPLY to this message and
enter the text between the specified lines. Your message has been
attached.do not wish any of this to have occurred. People need to talk about abuse even the Pope there is no need to be embarrassed or guilty it needs to be spoken about by all people.

Check out the documentary Deliver us from Evil http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0814075/
It follows a child sex offender priest on his parish movements from victim to victim. We hear from the priest, the victims and the church hierarchy. It shows that the church likes to think that 'priests are God's chosen princes on earth. The devil is always opposing God and tempting his chosen ones to sin. Therefore when a priest sins (eg has sex with children), that is because the devil has come in the form of the child tempting the priest to sin.' This internal logic of justification explains why the church regards victims of sex offender priests as threats to the church and treats them that way. Benedict is discovering that it is not really working too well.At last.

Oh mog,

to think that the Vicar of God could be so decent:

"Prayers were said at Mass on Sunday for victims of former Catholic priest and paedophile Tony Walsh following the publication of Chapter 19 of the Murphy Report.

"The previously censored chapter of the report described Walsh as the “most notorious” paedophile encountered by the Commission of Inquiry and estimated his victims to run into the hundreds."

Read the full horror on the xtian news site:
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/prayers.for.victims.of.abusive.former.priest/27270.htm

And, just to show the Micks are not the only sinners, try the ABC TV here on the 'scathing report' on school chaplains:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/11/25/3076862.htm

There is always an excuse, a justification, and way out for these dangerous creeps.

As a Jewish person, I can tell you that child sex - it is always rape as no child can be 'consenting' - carries the death penalty in traditional (Torah) Judaism. Jews do not accept the excuse "the devil made me do it" which seems to be the cry of the 'Christian' perpetrators of these crimes against children.

A recent case in Israel; an 8 year old girl was raped. The father of the girl found out who did it, shot and killed the man (almost all Israelis are armed). Goes to court, father charged with murder, court finds not guilty of murder but of manslaughter (Israeli criminal Law is largely based on British Law). Verdict - suspended sentence and probation due to the extreme provocation of the crime against his daughter. The father got to keep his guns.

In Australia, we don't value our children and so the courts give such lenient sentences. Any parent here who acts to defend their children or punish those who attacked their children is treated far harsher than the child attacker. Why?

God-swill Richard, God's will.

He moves in mysterious ways, and no one in Australia has the stomach to question any of the claims made under the name of our various gods.

To do that, is to invite ridicule, and hurtful expressions of bile from 'the faithful'.

No wonder Israel gets on so well with the USA, both have gun-toting wild west mentalities that drive their populations.

I do not think that killing a perpetrator
is a way anyone should go. This is a emotional response. I am glad that we do not have the laws in Australia like is found in America and Israel. This is also not going to help solve the problem of child abuse.

Preventing child abuse and educating everyone on it is more valuable than focusing on punishing people. This has not reduced the abuse at all just helps it become more hidden and more secret. Abuse of children needs to be exposed for what it is and the damage that is causes to a society. The bacci bazzi boys in Afghanistan is one of the saddest and most disgusting things I have ever come across. This is done in full view of people and it is brushed off as a cultural thing. It is in all cultures abuse of children, the only way a country or our earth will progress is if all people fight against child abuse and take it seriously. Punishments is a bandaid measure whether they are weak or long term ones.

To: The Blue Cross & gothesca (don't you people have real names?)

To answer a few statements; Israeli Law is far closer to Australian Law than it is to US Law, when Israel became independent from the British Mandate (eg trusteeship) in 1948, it inherited the British legal system and had almost exactly the same laws and Criminal Code as in Oz.

Israel does not have a 'gun-toting, wild-west mentality' and I'm not sure that is even true of the US in this modern era. Excluding terrorist crimes, are you aware that Israel has a tenth or less (on a per capita basis) the crime rate in Australia? You are 10 times more likely to be the victim of violent crime and crimes against the person - this includes child abuse, sexual or otherwise - in Australia than in Israel. These statistics are easily checked.

The US and Israel are not as close as you imply. The main reason why the US is supportive of Israel generally, is that it is the only 'Western' democracy in the Mid-East, and is fighting the same war on terror as the US.

The US takes a harder line against child-abusers generally than Oz or Israel. The US better recognizes that child abusers are recidivists and so it's not just a punishment issue; it's to keep them away from children and repeat offending.

Is that why the US jailed all its Catholic Bishops, priests and bell ringers?