Australia - Royal Commission to Investigate Child Abuse by Clergy and Others

[Heretic]

Boy Scout files show sex abuse cover-ups:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57535352/boy-scout-files-show-sex-abuse-cover-ups/

http://www.sfgate.com/business/prweb/article/Monumental-Boy-Scouts-Child-Sex-Abuse-Report-4039830.php

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/20/boy-scouts-perversion-files_n_1992252.html

Former detective constable claims special branch tried to keep police from witness who alleged MP abused young boys:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/nov/16/cyril-smith-fears-cover-up

"Sick crimes will go uninvestigated": Fears of child sex abuse "cover-up" as Theresa May rejects calls for super inquiry:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/theresa-may-sparks-claims-of-child-sex-1421346

BBC Scandal Exposes Cover-Up of Host Jimmy Savile’s Pedophilia, Fueling Public Broadcaster’s Foes:

http://www.democracynow.org/2012/11/13/bbc_scandal_exposes_cover_up_of

[Wetcoaster]

Boy Scout files show sex abuse cover-ups:

http://www.cbsnews.c...buse-cover-ups/

http://www.sfgate.co...ort-4039830.php

http://www.huffingto..._n_1992252.html

Former detective constable claims special branch tried to keep police from witness who alleged MP abused young boys:

http://www.guardian....-fears-cover-up

"Sick crimes will go uninvestigated": Fears of child sex abuse "cover-up" as Theresa May rejects calls for super inquiry:

http://www.mirror.co...ild-sex-1421346

BBC Scandal Exposes Cover-Up of Host Jimmy Savile’s Pedophilia, Fueling Public Broadcaster’s Foes:

http://www.democracy...ses_cover_up_of

[Heretic]

Yes... and?

[Wetcoaster]

It's relevant to "Royal Commission to Investigate Child Abuse by Clergy and Others"

[Heretic]

Yes... and?

And unlike the Catholic Church in Australia, the Scouts Australia organization is completely onside with the Royal Commission:

Scouts welcomes Royal Commission into Child Abuse

Scouts Australia welcomes the Federal Government’s decision to establish a national Royal Commission into institutional responses to instances and allegations of child sexual abuse in Australia. Scouts will assist The Commission in whatever way possible.

Scouts has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind and for decades has had a policy and practice to report all instances of potential child abuse to police. Scouts has always made records and files freely available to the Police and other child protection authorities.

Scouts is particularly pleased that this inquiry will encompass the full range of organisations which care for children across the community. Identifying the ways that child abusers avoid detection or avoid being reported is crucial to prevent their access to children in other organisations.

Scouts hopes that the Commission’s scrutiny of current community organisation’s policies and practices will lead to more rigorous and stringent processes for groups to report and reject suspected child abusers across the entire community. A serious and deep attention to reporting in every organisation should help provide victims greater confidence to report sexual abuse matters.

In addition, Scouts urges the Commission to include a review of sentencing laws for child abuse offenders across the country. Penalties should reflect the severity of the crime.

Scouts has developed robust and vigilant child protection policies in all States and Territories, working with the full range of Child Protection Agencies. There are mandatory police checks for all adult volunteer Leaders and compulsory training to maximise child safety.

Scouts is a family based organisation and we strongly encourage as many parents as possible to be actively involved in all our programs.

Scouts urges all parents to be familiar with the child protection policies in their community organisations and to talk to children sensitively about these issues. Ideas to improve safety for children are always welcome and Scouts looks forward to the recommendations of The Commission.

Scouts is grateful to the many thousands of Leaders, parents and supporters of Australian Scouting who work tirelessly to mentor and to enrich the lives of so many children in the community through our personal development and educational programs and activities, whilst also ensuring their safety and protection.

http://www.scouts.co...toryID=24777233

Quite different from the Catholic Church reaction, eh?

[Wetcoaster]

Yes - but at least now you mentioned it!

[Heretic]

Other organizations were mentioned before... in the OP - beginning with the title and the first line of the post:

It just so happens that the Catholic Church is the poster child world-wide for sexual abuse of children both in absolute numbers and percentages and they try to minimize the problem... just as you do. And it most often involves priests who have taken vows of celibacy and who are seen as the shepherds to their flocks. So on the WTF scale the Catholic Church rates a 10.

[Heretic]

Other organizations were mentioned before... in the OP - beginning with the title and the first line of the post:

It just so happens that the Catholic Church is the poster child world-wide for sexual abuse of children both in absolute numbers and percentages and they try to minimize the problem... just as you do. And it most often involves priests who have taken vows of celibacy and who are seen as the shepherds to their flocks. So on the WTF scale the Catholic Church rates a 10.

[Buddhas Hand]

Yes - but at least now you mentioned it!

Edit: BTW - you are wrong - they are acting the same way:

"The head of Australia’s powerful Catholic Church acknowledged the “shame” of child sex abuse among the clergy and welcomed a sweeping inquiry, but also warned that the extent of the problem within his church had been exaggerated.

On Monday, Prime Minister Julia Gillard ordered a rare Royal Commission, the highest form of investigation in Australia, into how churches, government bodies and other organisations have dealt with possibly thousands of child sex abuse claims.

George Pell, Australia’s only cardinal, said the Church would cooperate fully with the new inquiry, which can compel witnesses to give evidence and produce documents, and that he did not believe the Catholic church was the main perpetrator.

“We are not interested in denying the extent of misdoing in the Catholic church. We object to it being exaggerated, we object to it being described as ‘the only cab on the rank’,” said Pell, who is also Archbishop of Sydney, on Tuesday.

“We acknowledge, with shame, the extent of the problem and I want to assure you that we have been serious in attempting to eradicate it and deal with it,” he told reporters in Sydney."

http://blogs.reuters...lcomes-inquiry/

"To the surprise of some, the Catholic bishops of Australia welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement of a royal commission into child sexual abuse.

Australians believe in justice and there is a strong feeling that justice has been denied to victims of sexual abuse. Justice is also owed to the individuals and institutions working to prevent sexual abuse and helping victims and their families.

I welcome the royal commission because it will help victims and help to clear the air. Victims have an absolute right to justice and I am pleased that they have welcomed the royal commission."

http://www.smh.com.a...1116-29his.html