THE Catholic Church has denied compensation to a woman sexually abused by a Catholic priest at the Mater Hospital in 1981 despite knowledge of two other victims, including a dying patient sexually abused by the priest while he was giving her the last rites.
In a letter on April 2, the Maitland-Newcastle diocese advised the woman, Marie Cowling, that its insurer in 1981, CGU Insurance, had "denied liability for this matter", and because "it is not the diocese's practice to offer financial settlement", compensation would not be paid.
This was despite emails from the diocese to Mrs Cowling in December advising of hopes for "good news in the new year", and a letter from the diocese to CGU Insurance on December 18 detailing two other abuse cases and the willingness of witnesses to give evidence supporting Mrs Cowling's compensation claim.
Both witnesses came forward after a Herald article last September detailing Mrs Cowling's abuse at the hands of the late Father James Hughes while he was a chaplain at the Mater.
A document written by a doctor supporting Mrs Cowling's story noted Father Hughes "had had previous incidents, that he had drinking problems and probably early dementia".
He died in Ireland in 1996.
"Since that time we have been contacted by several people outlining very similar incidents involving Fr Hughes," said diocesan child protection and professional conduct unit manager Helen Keevers in her letter to CGU.
"These accounts support Mrs Cowling's version of events."
The letter noted CGU's earlier advice that it would contest any claim by Mrs Cowling because of a lack of corroborating evidence.
"In particular, there is a woman who outlines very similar abuse at the hands of Father Hughes while a patient at the Mater, and an account by a woman who was a junior nurse at the time," Mrs Keevers said.
"She experienced sexual harassment by Father Hughes and witnessed him sexually assaulting a dying patient while administering the last rites.
"Both these people are willing to provide evidence in support of Marie Cowling. I can obtain their detailed statements if you wish."
She asked CGU to reconsider its position "in the light of this new evidence", but in a letter to Mrs Cowling on April 2 Mrs Keevers advised that the insurer had confirmed its decision and the diocese was awaiting written reasons.
The letter noted that: "The healing service of this diocese (through Zimmerman House) engages with survivors of abusive situations and attempts to support them through a process of healing. It is not our practice to offer financial settlement."
Mrs Cowling, who was 31 when the assault occurred, said she was outraged and was taking legal action.
"It's time the church was held accountable for its sins," she said.
Financial compensation was the only penalty available to victims of church-based abuse, she said.
A second woman, abused by the priest at the Mater in 1981 when she was 26, wept on Friday when she talked about an assault she had kept a secret even from her husband until the Herald article last year.
"I just buried it, but all these years later it still gets to me," she said.
The diocese confirmed the advice given to Mrs Cowling but refused to comment on the case.
A spokeswoman for the insurer said the company was preparing a response.
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