The Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide has denied causing any delay in a 12-year legal battle with parents of profoundly disabled children who were abused at a church school.
Peter Mitchell, the father of one of the boys who attended St Ann's Special School in Adelaide from 1986 to 1991, has started an online petition calling on Archbishop Philip Wilson to settle the case.
The school's former bus driver, Brian Perkins, was arrested in 2001 and sentenced to 10 years in jail where he died in 2009.
He pleaded guilty to five offences involving three students, although as many as 30 children were understood to have been abused by him.
Documents later revealed the church was aware Perkins was a sex offender and fired him in 1991, but never mentioned the sex abuse to police or parents.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide said Archbishop Wilson had shown, from the outset, the utmost concern and compassion for Perkins' victims and their families.
"As soon as he learned about the shocking reality of this case, he apologised to the victims and their families and he put in place pastoral and counselling support for anyone who needed it," the statement said.
"In 2003 the Archbishop also paid $2.25 million in unconditional, ex-gratia payments to families in an effort to help support them through this most difficult matter."
He continued to offer counselling and pastoral support,and encouraged families to consult their lawyers to ensure their rights were fully protected, the statement said.
A minority of families issued legal proceedings, which were in the control of the courts.
"Archbishop Wilson is aware that legal proceedings can and often do take a long time to progress through the Courts and while that is a matter of regret, he has not caused any delay in their progress.
"Like everyone involved in this matter, the Archbishop was horrified to learn of the abuse perpetrated in this case and he repeats his sincere sorrow and regret that it ever occurred."
On Monday, Mr Mitchell said that following a church investigation in 2001 parents were given a gift and an apology which he described as a "pittance".
He accused the church of using legal delaying tactics to drag the process out for 12 years, saying one phone call from the archbishop to the lawyers could end it.
