History will record that a man named Anthony Foster quietly and profoundly changed Australian history’
Royal Commissioners and Church and political leaders have expressed shock and sorrow at the sudden death of the leading child sex-abuse victims’ advocate Anthony Foster (right), two of whose daughters were raped by a Melbourne parish priest. Mr Foster, 64, is believed to have fallen, hit his head and had a stroke last week. He died without regaining consciousness.
He and his wife, Chrissie, were among the first couples to go through the Melbourne Response protocol, established by then Archbishop George Pell in 1996. But they later clashed with the archbishop and sought unsuccessfully to meet Pope Benedict XVI when he was in Sydney for World Youth Day in 2008, only months after their eldest abused daughter died.
Two of the couple’s three daughters, Emma and Katie, were raped repeatedly by a paedophile priest, the late Fr Kevin O’Donnell, when they were in their parish primary school in the 1980s. Emma later suffered from eating disorders, drug addiction and self-harm. In 2008, she overdosed on medication and died, aged 26. Katie became a binge drinker and was hit by a drunk driver in 1999. Now severely disabled, she needs 24-hour care. In 2012, Mr Foster told Victoria’s parliamentary inquiry into the handling of child abuse by religious and other organisations: “In our interactions with now Cardinal Pell, we experienced a sociopathic lack of empathy typifying the attitude and responses of the church hierarchy.”
The Chairman of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Justice Peter McClellan, said the Commissioners and staff were deeply shocked and saddened by the news of Mr Foster’s death.
“Anthony and Chrissie dedicated many years of their lives to bringing about justice for survivors of child sexual abuse,” Justice McClellan said. “Their tireless advocacy helped bring about this Royal Commission. With dignity and grace, Anthony and Chrissie generously supported countless survivors and their families whilst also managing their own grief.” Melbourne archdiocese said Mr Foster had been a tireless and fearless advocate for the cause and rights of survivors of abuse within the Church and the introduction of systems to prevent its repetition.
“We would expect nothing less from a father who loves his children,” it said in a statement. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews offered Mrs Foster a state funeral for her husband, which was accepted. “History will record that a man named Anthony Foster quietly and profoundly changed Australian history,” Mr Andrews said. “He and Chrissie lost so much, but never their dignity, grace and strength.”
Australia’s bishops are conducting an online survey of young people that will inform the synod in Rome in October next year on “Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment”. Go to: catholic.org.au/youthsurvey.
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