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	Church 'Shocked' by Sexual Abuse Allegations IOL October 2, 2007 http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=nw20071002125154365C500089 The Catholic Church says it has noted "with great sadness" allegations of child sexual abuse levelled against former Bishop of Johannesburg and Boys' Town founder Reginald Orsmond. "The Catholic Church in Southern Africa has a clear position against sexual abuse of any kind and we have been consistent in strongly condemning this deplorable behaviour within the church and within society as a whole," the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) said in a statement on Monday. It was responding to media reports at the weekend on shock allegations made in the autobiography of magazine editor Mario D'Offizi, to be released by Ge'ko Publishing in November. D'Offizi claims in his book, "Bless Me Father", that the highly-regarded Orsmond sexually abused him during three years he spent at Boys' Town in the Magaliesberg in the 1960s. Orsmond, who started the Boys' Town home in 1958, died in 2002. The SACBC said the Catholic Church "notes with great sadness the alleged child sexual abuse of Mario D'Offizi by the late Bishop Reginald Orsmond during their time together at Boys' Town in the 1960's". The church had a clear protocol for dealing with allegations of sexual abuse of children. "This... involves child welfare, the SA Police Service and other competent authorities." Bishop Orsmond had been a "larger-than-life character" in the lives of many people. "He is remembered by many for his fearless championing of the Boys' Town idea for troubled youth and for his wise and skilful leadership of the Diocese of Johannesburg from 1984 to 2002. "It is unfortunate that these allegations come years after his death." The SACBC invited D'Offizi and "all others who feel that they are victims of abuse by Catholic clergy... to share their story with a competent church authority" so that swift and compassionate action could be taken. "We all hope that whatever processes are undertaken, justice may be served to the benefit of all affected by this," it said. - Sapa
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