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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2013 2:39:22 GMT -5
The report from the Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other Non-Government Organisations conducted by the Victorian government can be found at: www.parliament.vic.gov.au/ |
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Post by spiders on Nov 14, 2013 4:52:59 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2013 0:39:06 GMT -5
"In referring to a study he had undertaken in 1997 relating to child sexual abuse
in churches, Professor Patrick Parkinson from Sydney University informed the
Inquiry that:
… children were less likely to be protected in churches than almost any other group
in society. I did not mean by that, that children were more likely to be abused but that
they were less likely to be protected if they disclosed abuse. There is a whole range of
reasons … the fact that there is a tendency to trust adults, people you have known a
long time; a policy of forgiveness, which has been a big issue in churches; and the issue
of protecting the institution.
Professor Parkinson went on to say that:
The reality is that we have come light years on from 1997. Most churches—I think all
churches—have radically changed their attitudes to all of this … It is important to
emphasise that all churches now, including the Catholic Church, are very much safer
places than they were. We have, in my view, come a long way, but there is a long way
to go." (P.139,V1)
Interesting to note the Anglican church has had a lot fewer complaints of CSA than the Catholic Church in recent decades, which the committee attributed to their introduction of policies and processes dealing with CSA significantly earlier than the Catholics. I don't think the 2by2 group has come light years from 1997, if they have even made it that far. From what I have read children are no safer in the 2by2 group now, as a product of internal processes, than they were 40 years ago. External forces may be having some influence on child safety though.
The report does not provide much for the anti-2by2 mill to grind on. That would be my only (ignorant) criticism, that the report might leave some from non-mainstream groups feeling their cries weren't heard. Nevertheless I am confident the recommendations (if enacted adequately in legislation) will impact favourably on the practices and processes of the 2by2 group. Ideally the recommendations will mean workers become mandatory reporters, they will be required to have a WWCC, criminal and cival cases against workers for failure to report or deal appropriately with CSA should be easier and an independent body will be in place to oversee and investigate.
The recommendation regarding reform to criminal laws has this to say:
"The Committee makes recommendations to reform criminal laws to strengthen the
potential for perpetrators of criminal child abuse and personnel in organisations who
conceal such crimes to be prosecuted and punished. It requests that the Victorian
Government is mindful that while the recommendations have been considered in their
application to the criminal abuse of children within non-government organisations,
if implemented they may become of general application. In consequence, in drafting
any legislation there needs to be consideration of any unintended implications for
other groups and individuals." (xliii,V1).
Knowing the "groupthink" logic of the 2by2's I suppose it might be a concern they will try and play the "we are not an organisation nor a religion" card. Depending on how the legislation is drafted this may actually be possible, given the concerns mentioned above. Longterm it won't fly though, community expectations are clear in regards to CSA and tolerance of organisations that use doubledutch to pretend they are not a religious group will be low.
I wonder what radical changes the next 15 years will see. I suspect we will see victim compensation payouts become a norm. There was some recognition in the report of the difficulty in getting money out of some organisations and mention of possible insurance requirements. Personally I hope this occurs, that groups like the 2by2s are required to hold insurance so that financial support for victims is not limited by their lack of funds or ability to squirrel it away.
A hell of a lot of words in this report but relevant reading if you are concerned with CSA in the 2by2 group.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2013 16:21:53 GMT -5
Go to www.parliament.vic.gov.au/In the middle of the page you will see a box titled Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other Non-Government Organisations. There are 3 downloads: Summary and Recommendations, Vol 1 & 2. The quotes above are from Vol 1, page numbers in brackets.  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2013 14:20:19 GMT -5
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Post by christiansburg on Nov 29, 2013 8:58:37 GMT -5
The report does not provide much for the anti-2by2 mill to grind on. That would be my only (ignorant) criticism, that the report might leave some from non-mainstream groups feeling their cries weren't heard. Nevertheless I am confident the recommendations (if enacted adequately in legislation) will impact favourably on the practices and processes of the 2by2 group. Ideally the recommendations will mean workers become mandatory reporters, they will be required to have a WWCC, criminal and cival cases against workers for failure to report or deal appropriately with CSA should be easier and an independent body will be in place to oversee and investigate. This is true. When I researched this subject for my critique on Grey's book I found that the abuse is across all Christian beliefs at a percentage of 10 to 15 percent. I thing most all are trying to address this issue now. The 2x2's are the main focus on this board so that is likely why we are referred to most often. The Catholics were fined 2 to 3 billion dollars for offenses occurring over a 50 year period and at least eight dioceses went bankrupt. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2013 19:56:10 GMT -5
The Catholics were fined 2 to 3 billion dollars for offenses occurring over a 50 year period and at least eight dioceses went bankrupt.[/quote]
Wonder how much the 2x2,s have paid out. Can somebody check the financial records.
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Post by sharingtheriches on Dec 7, 2013 12:43:03 GMT -5
The Catholics were fined 2 to 3 billion dollars for offenses occurring over a 50 year period and at least eight dioceses went bankrupt. Wonder how much the 2x2,s have paid out. Can somebody check the financial records.[/quote] There probably are funds that will not be known about....I think even some overseers/workers have invested into stocks, etc those likely being the ones legally that can be found. What the government might do with those investments? Perhaps the workers have their money pretty well hidden except for the elders who take care of the money for the workership. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2013 13:51:18 GMT -5
The workers are good at prestidigitation.
I once was a Treasurer of a proper Church, and each month would prepare a full financial statement. A copy of it was given to every member of the congregation. This is the way it should be done.
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Post by snow on Dec 7, 2013 16:08:38 GMT -5
The workers are good at prestidigitation. I once was a Treasurer of a proper Church, and each month would prepare a full financial statement. A copy of it was given to every member of the congregation. This is the way it should be done. I think that would put an end to the friends thinking their workers were poor ministers of God. I know my parents left a good portion of their estate to the workers. Bet that was never recorded for all eyes. |
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