Sam Seeks Justice for Childhood Abuse

0:00From Sydney, this is your March 3rd update. A man in the 70s, known here as Sam, is seeking justice for abuse. He says he endured at six years old in the mid-1960s at a Catholic, boys home in New South Wales. He alleges a nun there, flogged and raped him, then introduced him to another man linked to the church who abused him on outings. Sam only recently decided to pursue civil lawsuits against the religious order and the state after meeting other survivors in jail. The abusers have died, so he cannot seek criminal charges, but he wants the institutions held accountable for the lifelong damage. A 2024 high-core ruling created big obstacles by saying churches cannot be vicariously liable for abuse by priests or nuns who are not. Seen as employees, this affected thousands of cases pushing survivors towards smaller settlements or tough trials. Last month though, the high court issued a landmark decision in a similar case, ruling that a diocese owed a non-delegable duty of care to a boy, abused by a priest.

1:01This special duty makes it easier to prove institutional responsibility like schools have for students. Lawyers call it encouraging, but note limits remain, especially since New South Wales has not passed laws like Victoria to close the loophole. Sam hopes it pays the way for his case, saying that trauma destroyed his life and the responsible parties must answer for it. DNA is sponsored by our partner. It is a pillow that plays your podcast and music without earbuds. Build for listening in bed, S-O-L-I, solely pillow.com