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International News Title: Church accepts liability for sex abuse [ Australia ] The Catholic Church is being praised for its readiness to avoid a court battle over the rape and sexual abuse of young girls at a Queensland primary school. A former teacher, 61, has admitted to a series of sexual abuse charges involving 13 girls in classes he taught between January 2007 and September 2008. Lawyers for some of the victims say Toowoomba Bishop William Morris has formally accepted legal liability for the abuse and the church will enter into mediation with the victims. Monique Cronin, spokeswoman for Slater & Gordon, the law firm representing five of the victims, said the bishop should be commended for his actions. "The mediation will happen over coming months," she said. "Having 10- and 12-year-old girls sitting in a court dock providing evidence with a barrister up there against them is not anything you'd want to subject a child to," she said. "It's fairly unusual for the Catholic Church but I think the bishop's taken a step to be commended. "He said he wants to resolve these matters expeditiously. He doesn't want to keep the parents and these children through a protracted legal process." Lawyer Damian Scattini, of Slater & Gordon, said the mediation was a positive step but he would not rule out court action to secure a fair compensation deal. "If we can resolve it ... sensitive and appropriately ... then everyone can move forward," he told the ABC. "If we can't, then we'll go to court." He said the victims would need compensation to pay for ongoing therapy and the law firm would also seek punitive damages. "Not surprisingly, they're going to need therapy, in some cases for many, many years," he said. Bishop Morris said former High Court justice Ian Callinan QC would "mediate civil claims by victims of a former teacher within the diocese". "I recognise the process of negotiating and settling claims can be stressful and worrying for the claimants and their families, and it is my hope that these matters can be resolved as considerately and expeditiously as possible for them," he said in a statement. "The children and their families affected by the former teacher's actions remain my highest priority, and my thoughts and prayers continue to be with them. "The families of the children who have not yet pursued formal claims will also be invited to participate in the proposed mediation process in the coming weeks." Hetty Johnston, of child protection group Bravehearts, also said the Catholic Church should be commended for its stance. "The church is sending the message that they are unhappy with the behaviour of those people who were a part of the cover-up," she said. "That will come as a great relief to victims. "They're just little people, they need to be believed, and it's great that the community, families, believe them ... and the church has said we believe you, we are sorry. "That's huge, to take away the `we don't believe you' ... that's the ball and chain stuff that will drive many survivors to alcohol, drugs, depression, suicide. "To take away that luggage is so good."
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