Overview

Chrissie and Anthony Foster were like any other young family, raising their three daughters in suburban Melbourne with what they hoped were the right values. Chrissie could not have known that the stranger-danger she feared actually lurked in the presbytery attached to the girls' Catholic primary school. Father Kevin O'Donnell, a long-term paedophile, lived and worked there. Two of their young daughters became victims of O'Donnell. And once the truth was revealed, the Fosters began a battle to find out how this could have happened. The Church offered silence, lies, denials and threats. Meanwhile, their daughters tried to piece together their fractured lives. This is the chilling true story that made national and international headlines. Chrissie Foster's heartbreaking account of her family's suffering, and their determination to stand up for themselves against the might of the Catholic Church, is testament to the strength of a mother's love, and the resilience of the human spirit.

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9781489488954

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Reviews

'A heartbreaking, searing expose of the corruption at the heart of the Roman Catholic Church and a powerful testimony to the resilience and power of a mother's love.' -- Colm O'Gorman, author of Beyond Belief 'Chrissie Foster's courageous and utterly devastating book, while intensely personal, is a wake-up call to us all ... Together we must protect our children, bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice and address the systems that perpetuate them.' -- Dr Cathy Kezelman, Chairperson, Adults Surviving Child Abuse 'We would never have achieved (a national apology) without Chrissie's bravery and tireless advocacy.' -- Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard 'By speaking out against child sexual abuse, Chrissie helped out victims find their voice and gave them strength. Because of Chrissie, our nation is changed for the better.' -- Daniel Andrews, Premier of Victoria 'Many people would have been destroyed by that suffering. Many would have been overwhelmed by what they saw. But the Fosters did not let this happen.' -- Justice Peter McLellan, Royal Commissioner

'A heartbreaking, searing expose of the corruption at the heart of the Roman Catholic Church and a powerful testimony to the resilience and power of a mother's love.' -- Colm O'Gorman, author of Beyond Belief 'Chrissie Foster's courageous and utterly devastating book, while intensely personal, is a wake-up call to us all ... Together we must protect our children, bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice and address the systems that perpetuate them.' -- Dr Cathy Kezelman, Chairperson, Adults Surviving Child Abuse

Author Information

Chrissie Foster AM was born in Victoria and worked as a public servant for nine years. She married in 1980 and by 1985 with husband Anthony, had three beautiful daughters, Emma, Katie and Aimee. In October 2017 Chrissie became a documentary presenter, when she again joined forces with co-writer Paul Kennedy to make the ABC documentary Undeniable which aired nationally to coincide with the Closing Ceremony of the Royal Commission. By 2018, Chrissie was awarded the Human Rights Medal for her ‘enormous contribution’ to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse alongside Justice Peter McClellan. In 2019, she was recognised in the Australia Day Honours ceremony and awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to children, particularly as a tireless advocate for child abuse survivors, in the face of unimaginable hardship. Paul Kennedy is a national television presenter for ABC News Breakfast. He has worked for three television networks and has written three books, including co-authoring Hell on the Way to Heaven (with Chrissie Foster), one of the triggers for Australia's Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. He lives on the eastern shore of Port Phillip with his wife, Kim, and their three sons, Jack, Gus and Leo. Chrissie Foster AM was born in Victoria and worked as a public servant for nine years. She married in 1980 and by 1985 with husband Anthony, had three beautiful daughters, Emma, Katie and Aimee. In October 2017 Chrissie became a documentary presenter, when she again joined forces with co-writer Paul Kennedy to make the ABC documentary Undeniable which aired nationally to coincide with the Closing Ceremony of the Royal Commission. By 2018, Chrissie was awarded the Human Rights Medal for her ‘enormous contribution’ to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse alongside Justice Peter McClellan. In 2019, she was recognised in the Australia Day Honours ceremony and awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to children, particularly as a tireless advocate for child abuse survivors, in the face of unimaginable hardship.

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