A day of reckoning !

A lot of people across Australia did not sleep well last night.    The Australian government has announced that it will hold a Royal Commission to look into the sexual abuse of children across the entire spectrum of churches and organizations that cater for children's needs.    The person who will head that Commission and the terms of reference will be announced in coming days.

This is long overdue.   In particular, the Catholic church has been singled out because victims claim that church authorities coverup crimes and simply move the offending priest to another district, where the crime is repeated.   Catholic authorities will be relieved that this Commission has an open agenda and the sins of it's priests will not be the only specific target of the enquiry.

It is not only clergymen who will have a shiver of fear running through their soul.  It is claimed that police were complicit in covering up sex abuse of children and the enquiry will be looking at the entire spectrum of society who would have been aware of this crime - and who chose to say nothing and allow it to continue.

It seems likely that ordinary Australians are in for a shock.   Once the enquiry gains media prominence a lot of victims will gain the courage to come forward and we may be surprised at how wide this problem had become, and how many innocent children had their trust in those tasked with protecting them abused.  We may learn of lives blighted and these disgusting acts sending many to an early death by suicide.

This is an opportunity to tackle the sex abuse of children headon !   The subject of paedophilia  comes in many forms and guises.   We will need to look harder at the mountains of indecent child photographs that regularly exchange between perverts around the world because in many cases viewing this material is not far removed from taking part in physical abuse.

It is important that this Royal Commission be totally impartial and that any form of church loyalty be set aside to let the cards fall where they may.   In particular, both sides of politics must take a neutral stance and let the enquiry do it's work.    It seems certain that some well known people may face adverse findings and reputations will be ruined, but past protection is just what allowed this crime to flourish.

At long last, Pandora's box has had the lid lifted.    Victims are about to get their day in court - and for the perpetrators - there will be a day of reckoning !