John Smyth Qc Decades Of Abuse Covered Up By Church Report Says

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John Smyth QC: Decades of abuse covered up by church, report says
John Smyth QC: Decades of abuse covered up by church, report says from

John Smyth QC: Decades of abuse covered up by church, report says

Independent inquiry reveals 'litany of failures' at St George's Cathedral

An independent inquiry has uncovered a "litany of failures" by the Church of England in its handling of decades of child abuse at St George's Cathedral in Perth, Australia. The inquiry, led by John Smyth QC, found that the church had failed to protect children from abuse, had not properly investigated allegations of abuse, and had not taken adequate steps to prevent abuse from happening again.

Failures of the Church of England

The inquiry found that the Church of England had failed in its duty of care to protect children from abuse in a number of ways. Firstly, the church had failed to properly investigate allegations of abuse. In some cases, the church had simply ignored allegations of abuse, while in other cases it had conducted inadequate investigations that failed to uncover the full extent of the abuse.

Secondly, the church had failed to take adequate steps to prevent abuse from happening again. The church had not implemented proper safeguarding policies and procedures, and it had not provided adequate training to its staff on how to identify and respond to child abuse.

Thirdly, the church had failed to provide adequate support to victims of abuse. The church had not provided victims with access to counseling or other support services, and it had not taken steps to help victims rebuild their lives.

Consequences of the Church of England's failures

The inquiry found that the Church of England's failures had had a devastating impact on the lives of victims of abuse. Many victims had suffered from lifelong psychological and emotional trauma as a result of the abuse they had suffered. The inquiry also found that the church's failures had damaged the reputation of the church and had led to a loss of trust in the church by the community.

Recommendations of the inquiry

The inquiry made a number of recommendations to the Church of England, including:

  • That the church implement a new safeguarding policy and procedures to prevent abuse from happening again.
  • That the church provide adequate training to its staff on how to identify and respond to child abuse.
  • That the church provide adequate support to victims of abuse.
  • That the church apologize to victims of abuse for its failures.

    • The inquiry also recommended that the church establish an independent compensation scheme for victims of abuse.

    Conclusion

    The John Smyth QC inquiry has uncovered a "litany of failures" by the Church of England in its handling of decades of child abuse at St George's Cathedral in Perth, Australia. The inquiry's findings are a damning indictment of the church's failure to protect children from abuse, to properly investigate allegations of abuse, and to take adequate steps to prevent abuse from happening again. The inquiry's recommendations provide a roadmap for the church to address its failures and to prevent abuse from happening again in the future.