Mark Fabbro has been seeking justice from the Catholic Church for 14 years. He is travelling to London to find it. He was sadistically raped by a priest Fr Byrne at the age of 11 on school ground during school hours at a Jesuit School in Melbourne, Australia in 1971. He says the impact on his life was horrendous. He was later sent to a Jesuit boarding school, St Ignatius College where he was further vilified and brutalized. He was expelled from two schools, failed the HSC. His friends turned on him and he lost all sense of self worth and self respect. Totally demoralized and unable to cope in society he fled into the desert and as far away as possible where he stayed for years.

While an internal church investigation substantiated his complaint, the Jesuits have dodged dealing honestly and openly with his case. Fabbro believes they know they have the law on their side. –there are many circumstances which allow the church in criminal maters to hide behind the law.

For example, under a 2006 Supreme Court of NSW ruling priests are not considered agents of the Church. Ref:  http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/stories/2010/2834210.htm “ Anecdotal evidence suggests there are a lot of victims out there. There is no accountability on part of the Jesuit order and there is still no independent investigation into the nature or extent of what can only be described as organized crime” Mark said.

He notes that in Australia many priest known to be child sex offenders remain in unsuspecting communities. According the an Age newspaper report of April this year it is estimated that approx 100 abusive priests who are known to the church authorities remain in the community in Melbourne area alone. Ref  http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/300-abuse-cases-one-defrocking-20100421-szz6.html

Mr Vincent Byres an ex-Christian brother was the Catholic Child Protection Officer who pleaded guilty in April this year of raping 10 girls between the ages of 9 and 13 in 2007-8. “It is obvious that, this being the case, no sensible adults should consider children safe from predatory priests and ex-priests. However the powerful denial prevalent within the Catholic community, particularly rural communities is leaving children open to abuse.

Mark Fabbro will also travel to Germany to meet with survivors of Jesuits whose reparation is being delayed. “It looks like these ‘men of God’ are again and again all over the world having difficulty expressing the ‘compassion of Christ’ they are so ready to preach” he said.

“It is very important for victims to understand what has happened to them and that it is not their fault. Their guilt and shame belongs with church and not them. Survivors should get help and find healing so they do not suffer in silence or inflict their pain on close ones. SNAP -Survivors Network of those Abused by Priest can help greatly” Mark said.