Photo: Peter Gogarty says he wants the Church held accountable for what it did to children. (ABC News: Nancy Notzon) Photo: Peter Gogarty says he wants the Church held accountable for what it did to children. (ABC News: Nancy Notzon)

International Criminal Court urged to investigate Catholic Church

... for the cover-up of child sexual abuse

There are two questions weighing heavily on abuse survivor Peter Gogarty's mind — how people who claim to believe in and preach the Gospel could prey on and sexually abuse children, and how those who concealed the abhorrent crimes have never be held to account.

Key points:

  • Peter Gogarty has asked the International Criminal Court to investigate senior Church officials
  • His submission alleges the Church's hierarchy "acted with impunity in every national jurisdiction in the world"
  • The case is complex and must pass several hurdles being considered by the prosecutor

The questions have consumed him and he is now taking the issue to the International Criminal Court (ICC), asking its prosecutor to investigate senior Catholic Church officials for what he calls crimes against humanity.

"This is about the cover-up of abuse," Mr Gogarty said.

"Specifically, this is about the fact that people in very senior roles in the Catholic Church knew what was going on with the child sexual abuse scandal and instead of protecting children in their care, they protected paedophile priests and brothers and other lay people.

"And really, the whole point of that was to protect their reputation and their assets."

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By Nancy Notzon
(Source: abc.net.au; December 13, 2018; http://tinyurl.com/ya6st774)
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