The Press
May 22 2004
Victim calls on church to lift veil
The woman who
sparked an Anglican Church sexual abuse inquiry is disappointed a settlement
reached with victims will remain confidential.
In 2001
Deans and four other women told the church of the allegations in 1989.
Last year Deans and two other women reached a settlement on their claims with
the church and received payouts of between $8000 and $30,000 each.
On Tuesday the church said it had made a confidential settlement with other
women who were sexually abused by a priest.
The church refused to confirm if the settlement involved McCullough.
Deans said it was unfortunate the settlement had been made behind "closed
doors".
"The church is a public institution and it needs transparency to be
accountable," Deans said.
"It remains a sealed place."
She said other organisations such as the Catholic Church, the medical council
and the law society had begun to open their proceedings to the public.
McCullough declined to comment yesterday.
The Anglican Bishop of
The church said it had addressed "longstanding" abuse committed by an
Anglican priest in