Alleged Catholic priest abuse victim Christopher Moran prevented from seeking justice in court

An alleged victim of a Catholic priest’s sexual abuse during a vulnerable childhood time has been barred from pursuing a civil court case against the Diocese of Armidale.

Christopher Moran, a Taungurung man, alleges he was sexually abused by priest David Perrett in 1976 while staying on an Aboriginal mission after his father’s death.

Mr. Moran sought compensation for trauma caused by the alleged abuse, hoping to hold the diocese accountable through a claim of vicarious liability and negligence.

However, the Supreme Court of NSW granted a permanent stay to the diocese, citing “exceptional circumstances” related to the inability to have a fair trial due to the deaths of Perrett and associated individuals.

The decision extinguishes any hope for legal recourse, leaving the decades-long trauma unaddressed through the court system.

Mr. Moran’s mother, Christine Briggs, expressed a desire for her son to receive justice, lamenting the lack of trust the church provided during their time at the mission.

(Micah 6:8) Justice requires that those who suffer speak out, yet the church failed to provide a safe environment or facilitate this.

(Proverbs 31:8-9) The call to speak in the matter of injustice applies directly to victims like Christopher Moran, whose voice was silenced for too long.

Source: Read the original report