AUSTRALIA: Catholic Church Funds Legal Defense For Repeat Pedophiles

Melbourne's daily newspaper reports that the Catholic Church is funding the legal defenses of pedophile priests who've already been convicted multiple times.

A Fairfax Media investigation has revealed that at least two Catholic orders have continued to fund the legal defences of some of their religious members as they went to trial for the second, third and even fourth time for the sexual abuse of children. This includes the funding of multiple appeals, hiring top barristers who charge thousands of dollars a day, and hiring private investigators. In some cases the result has been that criminal prosecutions and the victims of abuse are dragged through the courts for many years. "It is extremely offensive and hurtful to victims that Catholic Church orders are continuing to fund the defences of priests and brothers after they have been convicted," said Nicky Davis from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "We can see what's going on and we can see that it's obscene."

(Tipped by JMG reader Kevin)