The
Catholic Weekly
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12 October 2003
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Church offers $2.1m
By Damir Govorcin
The Catholic Church in Adelaide has offered $2.1 million in compensation to former students of St Ann’s Special School who were sexually abused by an employee more than 10 years ago. The offer does not preclude any legal action against the Church.
Adelaide’s Archbishop, Archbishop Philip Wilson, says the Church has offered compensation, ranging from $50,000 to $100,000, to 33 victims of former bus driver Brian Perkins.
Perkins, 67, has been jailed for more than 10 years for sex offences against intellectually disabled boys from the school in the Adelaide suburb of Marion.
The offences took place between January 1987 and August 1991.
The archbishop says he is “shocked and angered at the abuse of these children, who are among the most vulnerable in our society”.
He said the Church has also offered support to 60 other families whose children attended the school at the time of the offences.
“Once again I ask forgiveness from the students and parents involved,” he said. “I know that money alone can’t overcome the pain and suffering they’ve had to endure, but I hope this gesture will at least help in some way.
“I’m not asking for any confidentiality clauses to be signed. I am not asking former students to forgo any civil legal action they may wish to take against the Church.
“I hope the families of the former students will not view the payment with suspicion, but as a genuine offer of support.”
Archbishop Wilson says he doesn’t expect any offer of money “to wash away the deep anger and cynicism felt towards the Church by many families”.
“But I hope that the families concerned will see my offer as genuine and that I want to offer some appropriate and substantial care for the former students,” he said.
Archbishop Wilson said that, in fairness, the Church’s payment would be offset against any damages awarded in any future successful civil action.
“This seems both fair and reasonable to request, but I wish to restate that what I am offering to former students does not preclude any legal action against the Church,” he said.
“It is their right under law.”
He added the $2.1 million would be found by realising investments.
“It will not be taken from the weekly contributions of Catholic families in their parishes,” he said.
“That money is needed to support each parish, as well as for the care of priests.”