Catholics everywhere would be troubled by the church's handling of a serial pedophile within their ranks, says a victim of Christian Brother Robert Charles Best.
The victim, speaking outside the Victorian County Court where Best was jailed for more than 14 years on Monday, called for a full inquiry into sex abuse in the Catholic church.
"We really need to look into the reporting mechanisms in the Catholic church related to sex offending," the victim said after Best's sentencing on Monday.
"I think it's troubling for Catholics everywhere to see that their church, which does so much good on the one hand, appears not to have performed particularly well in this circumstance.
"But I think those questions can be answered by a proper and full inquiry."
The Catholic church has been criticised for footing Best's legal costs.
A lawyer representing the 11 victims in a civil action said she hoped the church would pay Best's victims compensation.
"The Catholic church and in particular the Christian Brothers, who have stood by Brother Best the entire time, now need to take the next step in the road to recovery for these victims by assisting them with their treatment and their education and by providing them with compensation," Dr Vivian Waller said outside court.
She said Best's crimes were "absolutely horrific".
"Brother Best deliberately targeted vulnerable people.
"He did this in the course of his duties of providing pastoral care or providing physical care in relation to sports injuries, and so on.
"He took enormous liberties and took great advantage of people who were in a vulnerable position."
Dr Waller said the Christian Brothers needed to take full responsibility for Best's offending.
"They should now fund reparation for the damage he has caused," she said.
Best, 70, was jailed for a maximum of 14 years and nine months with a minimum of 11 years and three months for 27 sex offences against 11 children, between 1969 and 1988.
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