Victims suffered "terrible impacts" attempting to make complaints

THE Catholic Church's internal inquiry process into sex abuse by the clergy was not only inadequate but caused more layers of harm.

THE Catholic Church's internal inquiry process into sex abuse by the clergy was not only inadequate, it was responsible for further layers of harm, known as "the second wounding", a Victorian inquiry has heard.

Helen Last, director of victims group In Good Faith, accused the church of mismanagement of abuse complaints, neglect of investigations, absence of promised pastoral support, a conflict of interest and lack of information about its inquiries.

Ms Last, commissioned by the church to establish a victim response unit within the Melbourne archdiocese before setting up In Good Faith in 1996, said victims had suffered "terrible impacts" attempting to make complaints against pedophile priests.

"This is called the second wounding, when a victim goes to some place, some person, some organisation, that they believe will really help them, that is set up for them, only to find that it is not set up for them, it is set up for another purpose, which is an institutionally based purpose," she said.

She said Melbourne Response, set up by the church to assist victims abused sexually, physically or emotionally, had caused "utter confusion" and deepening mental health issues.

Ms Last also presented the Victorian inquiry with a starkly different view of pedophile priests, saying allegations made to her organisation included "scenarios of terror" with offenders who had guns and knives.

In Good Faith researcher Clare Leaney set out four cases, of 18 in the group's submission, where the church was aware of allegations against a priest for many years, but "facilitated the obstruction of justice" by moving the priest, or imploring victims to remain silent.

Former Catholic teacher Pam Krstic, who was ignored when she attempted to raise concerns about predatory priests, wept as she told the inquiry about a child's response to an abuser being revealed.

Victoria Police was scathing of the church's handling of child abuse cases, accusing it of hindering investigations and claiming methods used by its lead investigator Peter O'Callaghan QC had effectively dissuaded victims from reporting abuse to authorities.

Mr O'Callaghan said yesterday he would respond in detail.