Fed: Abuse group gives up on inquiry
BRISBANE, April 3 AAP - A child protection activist has given up on the Anglican Churchholding an inquiry into its past handling of abuse cases.
Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane Dr Phillip Aspinall announced the inquiry on February19 but has yet to finalise terms of reference or select a person to head it.
The inquiry was triggered by widespread criticism of the church's handling of childsexual abuse under former Archbishop and now Governor-General Dr Peter Hollingworth.
Bravehearts executive director Hetty Johnston, who was a prominent critic of Dr Hollingworthat the height of the debate, said today she had given up on the inquiry.
"I don't think the inquiry is going to happen," Ms Johnston said.
"From a legal point of view, it just can't happen."
An Anglican Church spokesman said a decision had yet to be made on the terms of referenceand an inquiry head, but the church was committed to it going ahead.
Ms Johnston said she hoped the proposed March for Children, to be held in capital citiesthroughout Australia on April 14, would put child protection back on the national agenda.
"We know too much about the effects of child abuse to continue to live in a state ofdenial and ignorance," Ms Johnston said.
"Continuing to deny that there is a problem only promotes more silence and engenders more abuse."
Ms Johnston said she hoped churches, families, children's organisations, politiciansand sporting clubs would get involved in the march.
AAP pjo/sc/cjh/sb
KEYWORD: ABUSE
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