Does anyone other than myself think that it is not a coincidence that Tony Abbott (a staunch Catholic) and the Royal Commission into child abuse (particularly by the Catholic Church) are two sides of the same coin in Gillard's attempt to turn voters against Abbott and that she does not really have any genuine desire to see justice afforded to the victims of child abuse? Just another political ploy at winning votes to get herself back into office!

I had not thought it through that deeply. I am trying to avoid thinking of Gillard, Swan & their mates, it is too depressing.

I had just thought of it as another vote buying exercise. I thought it should get then about 20 votes for every hundred thousand of our dollars they throw at it.

Still it is a good conspiracy theory.

Mr Opinion

I don't really know whether the RC is political although everything else this Government has done has not been in the interests of the country. What I do know is that child abuse in the indigenous communities is still in epidemic proportions. It is also very clear that the breakdown of the family unit mixed with the availability of porn has and is leading to more abuse than ever before. The Government does not want to address these issues because they are anti family and have not the guts to face reality. To many want their little right to feast on porn despite its obvious fruit.

Best leave the conspiracy's to Arjay. It would have been a long and hard thought to connect the Catholic church Abbott and Gillard. This has been coming for a long time and needs to be addressed. This royal commission will set the stage for other institutions to come clean also.

I deeply regret breaking a promise made to myself.
Sir/Madam your words are childlike/untrue and IMO damn you by being seen in print.
I came here to tell you that on behalf of every dead person who killed them selves as a result of be RAPED as a child.
In the very places your God, was answered when he said suffer the little Children to come to me, or words to that effect.
Gillard is as unloved by me as any one.
In caving in, I doubt she would act without , those who forced this action, from out side politics, and they deserve your thanks.
Consider the act, crimes so dreadful against children, good by Sir Madam I will trouble you no more.
May I? just see the truth, then the charges, now honestly lets consider the insulting view this Royal Commission was Tony Abbott,s Idea.
And the Author took him to task this way?
Can we ALL see?
See the ugly untruth in the thread, some will heap praise and support on our Author.
Because they want to unload on Gillard.
Is that reason to turn this country,s politics in to a CIRCUS? does truth matter?
I think, always, even when it hurts, it does.

I don't believe that the Royal Commission is "just
another political ploy by the PM." I believe
that this has come about as a result of outside
pressure and no matter who was the PM - the Royal
Commission would have been demanded and granted.

The case of child abuse has been going on for decades
in this country and it is high time that a thorough
investigation took place. No longer can any Government
continue to ignore this highly emotive issue. The victims
demand justice be done. It should
not be part of any infantile finger-pointing exercise
or politics. It's high time that Justice Was Served -
and not hidden, denied, or swept under the rug.

A group I belong to wrote at least twice to the PM advocating a Royal Commission. So did many other individuals and groups.
I has been obvious for some years that the RCC bishops considers that they are answerable to the pope rather the state where they reside and function.
There is an article on this site by Glen Coulton which spells out many of the problems citizens have with the RCC or which they should have.

Dear Foyle,

Thanks for the reference to the Glenn Coulton
article. I found the "Ellis Defence" very frightening
and Cardinal Pell even more so.

Others may want to read it as well. Here it is:

http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=13207

Considering that the coalition had been calling for a royal commission into institutional child abuse for some time, this is not a Labor ploy to attack Abbott, rather a Labor ploy to make it look like their idea.

This Royal Commission is better off with Gillard's terms, instead of Abbott's. Or would it be Pell's terms.

Hi there BELLY old man...

Matey, you're sounding a tad disillusioned, all's well with you I hope ? I couldn't agree with you more, whether it's Ms Gillard, or Mr Abbott, this Royal Commission is far too important, in fact vital to allow any political posturing to dislocate it's successful passage.

The good name of all Australian Religious Institutions, educational bodies, the Scouting movement, in fact any organisation where our precious young come in regular contact with men, who are not closely related too them.

Therefore this Commission is probably the most important in my memory. Should they get it wrong, lose focus, or fail to deliver on the many questions, we the public are asking, it'll prove a waste of time, and money. Moreover, and much, much more seriously, it will prove a calamity for our young children who put their absolute trust in us to protect them in every way. This Royal Commission, must be successful, notwithstanding the cost, otherwise who'll protect our precious kiddies.

And from another point, give the detectives the wide (Intelligence) powers they seek, in order to pin these...'people'... right down. The government, politicians, police command, and the Royal Commissioners, know exactly what detectives require. Nothing that will ever bother ordinary citizens.

Good afternoon to you LEXI...

As ever spot on !

Crimes of this dimension must be stopped ! Stopped for the sake of our young kiddies future. There's enough pressures today, on our children just to adequately confront the many daily problems of schooling and other difficulties and issues associated with this modern age.

Drugs, booze, even homelessness - never did I have a need to confront such overt availability and easy accessibility of hard drugs. In my day (late 1940's to early, 1960's) Just a bit of booze, girls and fast cars, all pretty tame stuff when compared to what's available on our streets today.

Added to those additional tensions and hassles, the prospect of not even being able to trust a grown-up male person... gee, seems like their formative years has as much risk, as a war zone ?

You're right, this Royal Commission, should enjoy total bipartisan support, allow the six Commissioners to do their respective jobs, without any interference. If necessary and requested, supply additional funds if required. But don't interfer with their work in progress. This RC MUST work, for the sake and future of our little, and bigger children.

I really don't know what all the fuss is about. As many have said, the Indigenous intervention achieved nothing, and so I believe the RC into child abuse will achieve nothing ie no change in the amount of child abuse.
The reason is because women have naturally always been in charge of society and sex in Western society. Women cannot allow intrusion into their power base and likewise the churchs beliefs are tangled with sex and sin and cannot allow scrutiny.
However as with war, men will get, and have got the blame, which will make all red blooded women happy. Rubbish men and blame them all in one go----bingo!

AS a victim of these parasites that ran the children s institutions ( I got 10 years incarceration at age 8 for being an uncontrollable child).... wow look around the streets today especially in the indigenous areas, the RC comes too late because the majority of the bastards are dead.
I well remember them and have tried on many occasions to cite their actions only to have the govt departments tell me they don't have any records.
Maybe some good will come out of it.
CG

.

Dear Mr Opinion

.

In announcing its creation, Julia Gillard indicated that the Royal Commission was to investigate ...

"Institutional responses to instances of allegations of child
abuse in Australia.

We will work on the specific terms of reference, but this is
about children who were in the care of religious
organisations - so that's all religious organisations.

It's about children who were in State care. It's about
children who were in the care of not-for-profit bodies other
than religious organisations.

It will therefore go as will to the response of children's
services agencies and the response of the police".

In answer to a reporter's question, she confirmed ...

"Yes, 'Institutions' includes schools and, obviously, schools possibly run by churches, possibly run by State governments".

Here is the link:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-12/gillard-launches-royal-commission-into/4367700

Also, as I am sure you are aware, the Royal Commission has the official backing of Tony Abbott.

It is quite obvious that Abbott and Gillard have both made political decisions on this issue which each considers to be in his and her best interests.

How could it be otherwise?

.

.

Dear Mr Opinion

.

Here is the link to the precise "terms of reference" of the Royal Commission on child abuse in Australia (under the title "Letters patent"):

http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/LettersPatent/Pages/default.aspx

.

Thanks Banjo Paterson.
I am so happy others can see the truth.
I fear for our country.
Fear that a day may come that sees the extremes on both or either side rule.
What a very poor country we would be.
IF we did not have this Royal Commission.
We are after all talking about kids, some of whom killed them selves gee.

.

Dear Belly

.

Sorry I could not get back to you earlier.

I'm afraid I am not very optimistic about the final outcome of all this.

While the Catholic church is not the only institution under investigation it is by far the worst case.

It is common knowledge that it has long been a safe haven for priests indulging in paedophilia activity. Not only has it aided and abetted them by covering up their crimes but it has also provided them with a constant supply of fresh young victims.

Nobody today can pretend to ignore this - to such an extent that parents who continue to entrust their children to members of the clergy may be considered as willfully exposing them to potential sexual abuse.

The Australian Royal Commission on child sex abuse is the latest of a number of similar investigations carried out in various countries in respect of paedophilia practiced by members of the Catholic Church over the past century. The close relationships and interdependency of the Church with politicians, governments, and the constituency are such that even the most rigorous of investigations inevitably fail to produce changes of any real significance.

The Commission's report obliges government to fire a warning shot of cannonball across the bows of the Church. That is the signal for the Church to wave a couple of brochures the Vatican will have already sent it, outlining a series of innocuous reforms and procedures destined to placate public outrage. The media are invited to witness this exchange to allow parents to continue to entrust their fledglings to the clergy without any feeling of guilt.

There is probably no fail-proof solution but priests should never be allowed in contact with unaccompanied children.

Unlike captains of commerce and industry, politicians and media moguls, the hierarchy of the Catholic Church considers it bears no responsibility for the endemic criminal activity within its organisation. In similar situations, the former resign promptly, the latter never feels personally concerned.

They obviously do not share common moral values.

.

Thanks BP.
Yes share your view we may yet again get no real out comes.
Still chuffed to see others felt the thread was not based on reality.
regards.

The Royal Commission came about more after media attention (eg. Four Corners and other programs)which highlighted historical systemic abuse with no accountability which allowed pedophiles and abusers to reoffend. If anything we should be asking why did it take so long.

It has nothing to do with Tony Abbott and it is unfair in this instance to cast a political conspiracy bent IMO. It is about time this issue was looked at once and for all particularly while some Churches continue to protect pedophiles.

It is particularly a blot on the Catholic Church but they are not the only ones but it is their responsibility to finally do the right thing. Can the RC Church muster the courage to turn their backs on past practices and work for the good of society not in self-interest.

Sexual abuse of children is horrendous and intolerable
and the failure of the churches to deal with it
effectively has done immeasurable damage to the victims.
he cover-ups, the protection of abusive clergy and the
refusal to admit egregious mistakes are totally
unjustifiable. We haven't even begun to calculate the
damage these crimes have done to people's trust, particularly
of the Catholic Church and to its reputation.

Law has simply moved the abusive priests from parish to parish,
thus giving them access to new victims.

The Royal Commission took a long time in coming - but its
the only way to deal with this heinous problem and the only
way to force the Catholic Church to realise that it is not
above the held and be held accountable.

As it is, it is time that people such as Cardinal Pell realised
that trust is going to have to be built from the bottom up
by cardinals, bishops and priests before their pronouncements
on morality will be taken seriously again. So it would be
best if they were forced to take a vow of positive action about
these issues for several decades to come.

I thank the two last posters.
This thread, its suggested path hurt me.
It truly did hurt ,that anyone would see a chance to advance a political line, totally wrong, but hurtful on the back of so much pain.
I in other threads spoke of a pedophile in my family, I rared him.
And of a 13 year old rosy checked girl, ruined for live by her fathers acts.
2015! a long time to wait for the results but worth it if it ends the act

.

I strongly recommend reading, or re-reading, Glen Coulton's article published on OLO on 6 February 2012, entitled "Is the Ellis Defence moral ? ".

Here is the link to Coulton's article:

http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=13207

.

Nationalisation by the Commonwealth Government of the Roman Catholic Church Trust Property's assets and recycling them into the economy on an equitable basis would have a beneficial effect on the economy and allow the Catholic Church to concentrate on its mission which the institution, itself, defines as "spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity ".

It does not need to accumulate "sleeping" assets and immense, non-productive wealth in order to do that.

.

A time will and should come, that see,s all religions taxed as we are.
And the fate of the Catholic Church is on a knifes edge, world wide reports and inquiry's question its very existence.
If real change is not made, the Church will die.
At its own alter of abstinence, a reason certain types join it.

Gillard's using this to get at Abbott. She knows the Catholic will look pretty rotten during the investigation, she knows Abbott is a good, well known Catholic. Therefore, she's looking for mud, and she's hoping that the mud will stick on Abbott. She's nearly destroyed Australia. She's a toxic manipulator of the truth. Abbott tells it straight

Dell! well its time for a meeting.
Come on you mob I am on the union stump gather around.
Dell is not alone.
In not understanding a thing about the subject!
That has to be his/her only defence.
And in a way the best defense for those who value rational debate.
And those who defend the victims of PEDOPHILIA.
a Jewish head, today in the press, has said such acts are not as harmful as has been said.
Two things worth noting
His part of that religion is accused of such crimes.
And it seems, from the inferences in the article, he may be an offender.
What other reason, to defend such an act.
BALANCE.
Much needed in these election times.
I have had a good talk, to myself,
*Belly, and all, never forget, some comments come from the deepest pit of failure to even think*
May every pedophile remember, the victims of your acts grow up, and will one day look in to your eyes.
Thankfully BOTH sides of federal politics support the RC.
We would be a lessor Nation if that was not true.