Everybody loves a good mystery. But the reality we face is no mystery—it is a documented catastrophe. For decades, the clergy of Australia’s largest religious institutions carried out and covered up the rape of children and vulnerable adults.

For the survivors, the "mystery" ended long ago. What remains is a toxic legacy of abandonment by the systems designed to protect us.

The Myth of "Waiting"

For years, governments and politicians have hidden behind the phrase, "Let’s wait for the Royal Commission." We must ask: are they waiting because they don’t know how they were complicit, or are they waiting to avoid confronting a culture that engenders rape and protects the predator?

Nothing speaks louder than silence. While elected officials remain inactive, thousands of survivors are hurting. The promise of support "before, during, and after" has proven to be a hollow lure—virtually useless for the many atheists among us who find no comfort in the systems that failed them.

The Blindness of the Press

The reporting we see in print is a cycle of "isolated incidents." There is rarely a thought given to the collective needs of the many children caught in the midst of the greatest rape culture Australia has ever experienced.

Where is the outcry? Where is the GoFundMe campaign to take up the slack left by the Catholic Church’s failure? Our morning shows and news programs do not feature a survivor each day to tell the truth of their survival or the horror of being failed by the state. Instead, we are met with the hypocritical refrain: "No amount of money would be sufficient."

Inequality Under the Law

The truth is devastating: when the government slashed recommended compensation to match the low amounts religious groups were already paying, the silence was deafening.

If there were equal access to justice, survivors would not be facing "double jeopardy" and hollow promises. Today, a survivor who has shed the shackles of religion is treated as a second-class citizen. To be treated as an equal in our own country—to have rights comparable to those provided to the accused and convicted pedophile clergy—would be a vast step forward. Currently, it is not happening.

A Failed Moral Compass

How can a country get this far only to realize that children in religious settings are at greater risk of rape by psychologically compromised clergy?

• To the Politicians: Have you lost a moment’s sleep over the human rights abuses these children endure?
• To the Church: What Catholic can stand up in all honesty and believe in a system that suggests a seven-year-old is responsible for the "seduction" of a 40-year-old clergyman?
• To the Public: Do you believe Australia has provided these victims a "fair go"?

 

Our Demand: Empowerment, Not Pity

Recovery is not an individual burden; it is a community responsibility. We are tired of being told we "cannot recover" while being denied a seat at the table.

We are standing up. We have the laws on our side, and thanks to the Royal Commission, we have the evidence needed to move forward.

We intend to flood the courts. We envision a future where a single survivor can lay dozens of claims against these human predators. We will not remain invisible so that 2,000-year-old claims can remain intact.

How You Can Help

We are seeking to start a national campaign that provides real support and matches the legal might of the Church. We want to ensure that no child of the future ever has a similar experience.

Empower us, and we will empower the next 500 generations of children.

If you are able to help us organize, fund winnable cases, or get this campaign off the ground, contact me today.

John B.
John@traumainreligion.com
Trauma in Religion