Those of us who suffered abuse at the hands of priests and other religious often find it is the spiritual wounds which prove hardest to heal!

Some church leaders in Tasmania have shown the moral courage and leadership to acknowledge the historical failures which saw paedophiles relocated repeatedly to avert the scandal of widespread sexual abuse. The Catholic Church in Tasmania is a notable exception with local leaders refusing to follow the lead of mainland dioceses!

Apologies like those offered by the Tasmanian Anglican Church are important but only the first step in alleviating the harm that victim-survivors of clerical abuse experience. Financial compensation is very important but every victim-survivor knows that no amount of money can restore a childhood lost to sexual abuse.

We are yet to see Churches establish the ministries to reach out to victim-survivors in true humility to help repair the spiritual harms that they have caused.