Sunday, July 20, 2008

Not enough, says Emma Foster's father

THE father of two girls raped by a Melbourne priest said the Pope's apology to the Catholic Church's victims did not go far enough.

Emma Foster killed herself in January and sister Katherine was left disabled when hit by a drink driver in 1999.

"It was a reasonable level of apology, but it was restricted to minors," Anthony Foster said.

"And it was just words; there was no instruction and no guarantee that help for victims would be unlimited. The victims need unlimited practical, psychological and emotional help."

Mr Foster - who last week flew from London with his wife, Christine, seeking an audience with the pontiff - said yesterday he had formally asked the church for a meeting with the Pope.

"It doesn't have to be in Australia," he said.

"We will meet him anywhere."

Mr Foster said the Pope should have made sure that individual archdioceses didn't put any limit on the provision of help for victims.

Stephen Woods, a victim of the notorious Ballarat priest Father Gerard Ridsdale and two Christian brothers, watched the apology live on television in Sydney with members of victims' group Broken Rites.

"At first I was moved by his words because they seemed heartfelt. But when he mentioned that people need to back the bishops, I thought, 'Oh no, more of the same', because the bishops have been the ones who block the victims from obtaining adequate compensation in the courts," he said.

"The fact that there were no victims invited to hear it was also disappointing. It contrasts sharply with the apology Kevin Rudd gave to the Stolen Generations."

But Susan Adams - who was abused 34 years ago by her parish priest - said the church should follow the pontiff's words.
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