THE Oakleigh father of a girl raped by a Melbourne priest wants her memory to mean something.
Emma Foster, 26, committed suicide earlier this year after a long battle with depression and drug addiction.
Emma and her sister Katherine attended Sacred Heart Primary School in Oakleigh where they were "repeatedly raped'', their father says, by Father Kevin O'Donnell.
Father O'Donnell was never prosecuted and died in 1997.
Anthony and Christine Foster said Emma and her sisters Aimee and Katherine were the light of their lives.
"Emma was happy, cheeky, full of energy, a real character, cute and in every way the typical toddler,'' Mr Foster said.
He wants to meet the Pope to formulate a way forward for victims of sexual abuse.
"It may be difficult and will require changes by the church but we are willing to help.
"Together we can ensure the victims of sexual assault are treated fairly and justly so they may have some hope of surviving and participating fully in this wonderful gift of life.''
Mr Foster spoke to the Journal after World Youth Day organiser Bishop Anthony Fisher made "outrageous'' comments about abuse victims.
After Emma's story appeared on ABC's Lateline, Bishop Fisher said the media attention detracted from the positivity of WYD. "Happily, I think most of Australia was enjoying, delighting in, the beauty and goodness of these young people... rather than dwelling crankily, as a few people are doing, on old wounds,'' Mr Fisher was quoted as saying.
Mr Foster said he was saddened by Bishop Fisher's attitude.
"There is no place for his comments and he should be absolutely ashamed of them.''
He said Emma and Katherine Foster were beautiful girls and he and wife, Christine, were proud parents.
Mr Foster said Emma was robbed of her innocence.
"Emma held the effects of the abuse deep within her mind. Chrissie and I were unable to console her.''
Katherine or "Katie'' was left severely disabled after a traffic accident in 1999.
Mr Foster hoped the Pope would respond to his plea.
"We do want an apology, but what we really want is some action on the actual compensation for victims. We want true and fair justice for the victims.
"There are many like Emma still suffering and being further abused by the Catholic church in their quest for fairness and justice. Many more have given up and many have died.
"The church should be deeply ashamed at the actions of offending priests and the behaviour of archbishops, cardinals and religious orders that have limited or restricted compensation for victims.''
The Journal was unable to contact Bishop Fisher for comment.
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