Catholics join abuse compo scheme

THE Catholic Church’s move to join the national redress scheme paves the way for $1 billion in compensation to flow to people sexually abused as children by church figures and puts pressure on other institutions to follow.

Australia’s Catholic bishops and leaders have committed to sign signing on to the $3.8 billion national sc scheme.

The ch church will be the first non-go non-government institution to op opt in to the scheme and bec because it has estimated it will be liable for about $1 billion in compensation.

Federal Social Services Minister Dan Tehan expects more institutions to follow.

Catholic leaders have long backed a national redress scheme but the churches, charities and other institutions needed the states and territories to sign on before they could opt in.

Western Australia is the final state to join.

The T Australian Catholic Bishops Bish Conference and Catholic Religious Australia confirmed firm yesterday the church would wo enter the scheme when w it became law.

“We support the royal commission’s recommendation for a national redress scheme, administered by the Commonwealth, and we are keen to participate in it,” it ACBC president Archbishop bish Mark Coleridge said.

“Survivors “S deserve justice and healing and many have bravely brav come forward to tell their stories.”

Legislation to enable the opt-in scheme passed federal Parliament’s lower house on Tuesday night.

Mr Tehan said the scheme was on track to start on July 1 if it passed the Senate.

“The Catholic Church obviously had institutions, churches under its control where terrible, terrible, shocking abuse took place,” he said. “Today shows remorse, it shows that they are prepared to take responsibility.”