On the need for child protection policies

#976 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 12 Oct 2014.

As Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston fronted the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse this week, Pastor Houston posted a statement on his church’s website stating that

exposing child sexual abuse and the response of institutions to that abuse, and allowing survivors to share their traumatic experiences, was a powerful step in the healing process.

He said Hillsong Church had zero tolerance for sexual abuse and comprehensive child protection policies, and said he welcomed “any recommendation of the commission that would assist us to improve on these policies even further.”

The Hillsong statement said:

The Royal Commission reminds us of the vulnerability of our children and should compel every organisation responsible for the oversight of children – churches, schools or other institutions – to ensure that the abhorrent acts of the past will never happen again.

That won’t bring healing or justice to the victims, but it’s the right way forward.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.