Personal Injury

Pattern of Abuse and Church Sex Abuse Sadly Repeated in Poland – Second Film Released in Honour of Victims of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse

One year after Tomasz Sekielski’s ground-breaking release of “Tell No One”, a second film, “Playing Hide and Seek”, was released on YouTube on 17 May 2020.

Since its release on YouTube a year ago the first self funded documentary, “Tell No One”, has been viewed nearly 24 million times. It provides an important insight into the journey of a number of victims of child sexual abuse by predatory Catholic priests.

The film is a confronting one for all participants, including the perpetrators of abuse, whose response to their victims’ approaches and questioning was secretly filmed. The clergy show a predictable lack of insight into the significance of what occurred, and generally display a lack of acknowledgment that what occurred were predatory attacks on vulnerable and traumatised children.

“Tell No One”, demonstrates all too familiar examples of cover up and denial of paedophilia within the church, and the unwillingness of church authorities to do anything to protect those most vulnerable charged to its care. Church representatives identify the number of victims identified, “to the Bishop or a higher monastery supervisor” at around 600, knowing that untold numbers of victims’ reports were not recorded by the Bishop or monastery authorities, and that many victims did not feel capable of making a report at all.

In Poland, one of Europe’s most religious countries, “Tell No One”, has made a valuable contribution to challenging the unquestioned and undeserved authority of a church that has shown itself unable to fulfil its central mission to the service of Christ with anything approaching the integrity one would expect.

Sekielski’s follow up film, “Playing Hide and Seek”, was released on YouTube on 17 May 2020. It had immediate effect, with the Polish Archbishop Wojciech Polak immediately calling on the Vatican to “launch proceedings into the cases in question”.

If you or someone you know is living with the trauma of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, we urge you to seek professional help. Time shows us that these traumas of childhood live on into adulthood, and impact the victims and those around them over decades. It is important to know that there are those in the community who do stand up, do speak out, and do advocate for the protection of the vulnerable. If you choose to seek compensation speak to us and we will listen in the utmost confidence, and assist you wherever we can. Please do not hesitate to call Ross Koffel on 02 9283 5599 for assistance.

Both films are available on YouTube with English subtitles and make compelling viewing. A third film is promised by the filmmaker, exploring the role of Saint John Paul II in “the dissimulation of crimes committed by priests”. It appears likely that film will be similarly released on or around the date of the former Pope’s birthday in May 2021.

The country and the language of these reports may be different, but the stories of abuse around the world are otherwise all the same. We see it over and over. There’s a pattern to it.

If this is your story, know that you are not alone, the secrets of these institutions are out in the glare of society’s condemnation, and compensation can be available to you.

Call us, and we will treat you with respect, we will listen, and we will fight for redress of a life forever impacted by the inexcusable actions of those you trusted.

Our record of success in the prosecution of matters of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse is unmatched.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0ym5kPf3V