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	Church Says Sorry By Paul Carracher Wimmera Mail-Times [Australia] March 23, 2007 http://wimmera.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=general&story_id=568961&category=general The Catholic Church will apologise to parishoners and the community for the 'terrible legacy' of sexual abuse by former priests. In a letter to parishoners, Bishop Peter Connors said he had personally met with many victims of past crimes. Bishop Connors said he had asked his Ballarat Diocese, which includes the Wimmera, to celebrate Sunday's services as 'Towards Healing' Sunday. "It is my hope that this will provide an opportunity for us to acknowledge the suffering of victims and ask for God's grace and mercy as we commit ourselves to working for the healing of victims, their families and the wider community and to rebuild trust," he said in his letter. "I wish to express my sincere regret and apology for the suffering and trauma caused by the actions of some of our priests." Horsham priest Fr John McKinnon echoed Bishop Connor's words, saying they were an explicit effort to face the wrongs done by members of the clergy and to pray for healing. "It's a case of recognising that we are all knocked about by the crimes and we will pray for forgiveness and help," Fr McKinnon said. "The broader community will recognise we are putting the pieces back together after the hurt and scandal. Sunday's mass will focus on asking for healing on a broad level but particularly those who have been hurt by the church - it's taking ownership of the problem." Former Wimmera priest Gerald Ridsdale molested 40 children throughout his 30-year career. Ridsdale, who is in jail in Ararat, worked as a priest at Edenhope between 1976 and 1979 and in Horsham between 1982 and 1986. The Catholic Church expelled Ridsdale from the priesthood in November 1993.
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