MP OPPOSES FLAWED CATHOLIC CHURCH CHILD SEX ASSAULT SCHEME

Oakleigh MP Ann Barker will make an historic presentation to the Victorian Parliament on Tuesday April 5th opposing the Catholic Church’s treatment of child sex assault victims of priests.

Ms Barker will present the book "Hell on the Way to Heaven" to the parliamentary library to help raise awareness among MP’s from all political parties of the suffering of many traumatised and silent sufferers of clergy sex assaults.

The book (Random House 2010) was written by Melbourne mother, Mrs Chrissie Foster, whose daughters were raped by Father Kevin O'Donnell. It is an expose of the Catholic Church systems of silencing and further traumatising child victims.

After presenting the book at a small ceremony in Queen's Hall, the Member for Oakleigh will become the first Victorian politician to request state intervention into the church heirarchy’s long-standing Melbourne Response.

Ms Barker will write to the Attorney-General and ask that he meet with her, Mrs Foster and other representatives to determine the terms of reference into a desperately needed, truly independent state-commissioned inquiry into the church's policies and actions.

The presentation will be held on Tuesday 5th April 2011.

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