A priest from Geelong in Victoria has called for the overhaul of the Melbourne Response for dealing with victims of clerical abuse and the $75,000 cap on compensation, reports the Herald Sun.
Father Kevin Dillon said the process set up by former Archbishop George Pell in 1996 to investigate sexual abuse complaints and compensate victims should be replaced with a "transparent and independent" process outside the control of the Melbourne Archdiocese.
The priest at Geelong's St Mary's of the Angels Basilica, Fr Dillon said many of the 300-plus victims processed felt it was geared more towards preserving the church's reputation and finances than providing justice.
"I am in regular contact with 20-plus victims from across the archdiocese and certainly the ones I speak to have many and varied criticisms about the process and its outcomes," he said.
"We need to ask (victims processed under the Melbourne Response): have they found it intimidating? Have they found it comforting? Have they found it belittling?" Fr Dillon said.
He said the victims should also be provided with "an experienced advocate, who accompanies them compassionately through the system".
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