Some will be regulars, while others are once-a-year worshippers, all of whom will be welcomed by the various denominations. It’s more than 25 years since I last attended Christmas Mass, but I’ve a solid excuse.

During the mid-1980s, I was subjected to two-and-a-half years of life-destroying sexual violence by two members of the Catholic Church – I was raped more than 100 times in churches, schools and other locations around Bathurst.

Against that background I had a vested interest in Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s recent apology to survivors of sexual abuse.

I’ve a natural and understandable disdain for and distrust of anyone who identifies as religious, so the fact that the apology was coming from Mr Morrison didn’t fill me with confidence. (Of course, I also acknowledge that religious freedom is an important part of a democracy.)

However, as I sat alone in my car - accompanied only by my shame - listening to Mr Morrison’s speech, I was struck by the power of the words and the apparent sincerity with which they were delivered.

I sobbed in my car for hours; for me and the countless others. Many of these countless others were not able to hear these words. Some have long since passed away, many, including a childhood friend and fellow Bathurst altar, by their own hand.

Many others were not able to comprehend the words, their cognitive function destroyed by drugs or demons.

I’d like to thank Mr Morrison for his speech, as I also thank former Prime Minister Julia Gillard for her role in establishing the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

An important outcome of the Royal Commission is the National Redress Scheme to which many institutions have pledged support.

Though the Catholic Church has pledged to join the scheme, it has yet to formalise its participation, and will be doing so via individual dioceses rather than as a single entity. This means that any application to the scheme pertaining to abuse that was perpetrated by members of the Catholic Church cannot be processed. 

I’m in my 40s, and though I have ongoing issues from the damage caused to my body, I’m in sound physical health. Therefore, it appears that I’ve time on my side and can wait (I’ve already been waiting more than 30 years), but what of the elderly and frail applicants who don’t have years left in them?

What also of applicants who need mental and financial support now in order to prevent them spiralling into drug use or suicide? 

Many victims of childhood sexual abuse feel that this legal foot dragging by the Catholic Church is merely a tactic to outlast them. It’s against this backdrop that I urge Mr Morrison to continue applying pressure to the Catholic Church and other institutions so that they can finally take some responsibility for the actions of many of their members and the cover-ups that were perpetrated by many more. 

Beyond the likes of the PM and others in positions of power, I also urge members of the various religious organisations to apply pressure at all levels.

As you head off to mass this Christmas, spare a thought to the lives destroyed. Perhaps you could even urge your priest or minister to demand action.

Merry Christmas.