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	Calls for Pope to Apologise to Australian Victims By Suzanne Smith Lateline May 26, 2008 http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2007/s2256146.htm There are calls for the Pope to apologise to the Australian victims of paedophile priests when he visits Sydney for World Youth Day. Transcript TONY JONES, PRESENTER: Bishop Michael Malone is the only bishop in Australia calling for a papal apology to sexual abuse victims when the Pope visits the country in July for World Youth Day. The story behind why the Bishop for the Maitland Newcastle diocese in New South Wales is taking such a stand is a story of shocking abuse and congregations ripped apart. It's also a story of betrayal, how the Catholic Church fought a family's legal battle to get a paedophile priest removed from duty and into jail. Suzanne Smith investigates. SUZANNE SMITH, REPORTER: This Catholic Church was once filled with worshippers every Sunday. The last parish priest died in jail after sexually abusing at least four young boys over a period of more than 20 years, in various parishes. Daniel was an altar boy at St Patrick's Church when Father Fletcher arrived in the late 1980s. Daniel was 11 years old. Daniel, like his parents and three brothers, was a devout Catholic. His father worked closely with the bishop of the diocese. Concerned that Father Fletcher knew no one in the parish, Daniel's family befriended the new priest. It's a bitter memory for Daniel's mother. VICTIM'S MOTHER: Bitterness, certainly, that a person that we welcomed in our home was a criminal and he stole my son's innocence forever. SUZANNE SMITH: The victim's police statement tendered to court years later, charts how the abuse unfolded. The grooming began with offerings of lollies in the back of the church, as Daniel changed into his vestments. When Daniel attended high school, Fletcher would turn up unannounced at school and offer him a lift home. The teenager first noticed a change of character when the priest started telling dirty jokes and using four letter language in his presence. Eventually, Fletcher would make the boy take part in violent oral and anal sex. The abuse happened all through Daniel's high school years. Fletcher often chose open air locations like the local water works. And in every conversation, he referred to the abuse as "our special time". Fletcher protected the abuse with threats, "remember our secret, I could hurt one of your brothers". [VISION OF JIM FLETCHER COURTESY OF NBN] The abuse ended when Daniel became too strong mentally for Fletcher, around the age of 17. But Daniel's behaviour was starting to deteriorate, propelling him from Grade A student to suicidal binge drinker. After several years of anguish, he finally contacted the police in 2002, at the age of 25. But from the start, the church jeopardised the investigation. Daniel's father told the most senior church leader in the diocese, Bishop Michael Malone, about Daniel's disclosure to the police. The bishop then visited Fletcher and warned him about the police investigation. This occurred before the police had time to search Fletcher's residence for evidence. Bishop Malone says his decision to see Fletcher was not to tip him off, but to give the priest some support. BISHOP MICHAEL MALONE, MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE DIOCESE: I suppose my biggest regret was not believing that Jim Fletcher could have done what he was alleged to have done. My first response was to support him. SUZANNE SMITH: That wouldn't happen now? BISHOP MICHAEL MALONE: Certainly not, no. It's very clear now that if a criminal matter comes to light, then the perpetrator should not be informed of that until the police have had every opportunity to investigate to a certain point and then to lay charges. [VISION OF JIM FLETCHER COURTESY OF NBN] SUZANNE SMITH: At the time, Bishop Malone didn't stand Fletcher aside, even though the chief detective in the case officially advised him to do so. Instead, Bishop Malone moved Fletcher from Clarencetown to this church at nearby Branxton, and then six months after the police complaint, he expanded Fletcher's parish to include Lochinvar, bringing him into contact with even more children there. VICTIM'S MOTHER: It made me very indignant and it made me realise that they didn't understand what paedophilia was about. The bishop was quoted as saying that in view of Father Jim Fletcher's ill health and the stroke he'd suffered some years before, he didn't think he'd be a threat to anyone, and paedophilia's not about physical strength, it's about power. BISHOP MICHAEL MALONE: I regret now that I didn't take it as seriously as I should have and that I didn't start more immediately to introduce the processes that would lead to him being stood aside and then the case unfolding. SUZANNE SMITH: The detective in charge of the case is relieved to hear that the bishop now regrets his handling of the case. DETECTIVE CHIEF INSPECTOR PETER FOX, NSW POLICE: I am pleased to hear that Bishop Malone came out and made those comments and talking to victims and their families. They are very, very glad to hear those sort of comments, as well. You know, they've indicated to me that they feel that the church is gradually trying to change and, you know, I'm certainly pleased as well to hear that. SUZANNE SMITH: At the time, though, Daniel's decision to go to the police divided the Catholic community. Some of Fletcher's supporters even threw eggs at Daniel's house. Two local priests became Fletcher's champions, one from this parish at East Gresford used and collection plate at mass to help fund Fletcher's legal case and asked the parishes to pray for Fletcher. VICTIM'S MOTHER: My bitter memory would be the absolute isolation that we felt from the church. We were practising Catholics. We were very involved in church life. I think we had a very reasonable expectation that the church would stand by us and support us through such a trauma. But we were ostracised. SUZANNE SMITH: Throughout the trial, church members sat with Fletcher, no one from the church sat with Daniel. The cross examination was particularly distressing. Daniel was asked by Fletcher's barrister whether he was " doing it for the money". VICTIM'S MOTHER: Daniel reacted very strongly and said, "No, and do you think I'd put my family through this for the money?" DETECTIVE CHIEF INSPECTOR PETER FOX: I've heard many people say they're only doing this for the compensation and those sorts of comments. To my mind, that's a lot of rot when you hear what they've gone through. I don't believe anyone would put their family through ordeals like that, just simply for a dollar. SUZANNE SMITH: Fletcher was convicted in 2004, and his supporters took the case all the way to the High Court, where the challenge failed. During the trial, other victims came forward to give evidence. Chief inspector Peter Fox is still investigating cases in the Hunter area. The level of clergy abuse disturbs him. DETECTIVE CHIEF INSPECTOR PETER FOX: I am aware that over the last 10 to 15 years there have been quite a number of members of the clergy in the greater Hunter Valley Newcastle areas that have been charged. Whether that is a disproportionate number, I don't know, but certainly, it would be something of concern. SUZANNE SMITH: Out of the trauma and anguish, a sign of hope. Following the Fletcher case, Bishop Malone commissioned a special report to see how the church could improve child protection in the diocese and out of it came Zimmerman House. It is a place where victims and their families get help and advice, run by social worker Helen Keevers. HELEN KEEVERS, MANAGER, ZIMMERMAN HOUSE: I do think it signifies change in a couple of areas. The way we approach survivors is different. We do see them as our colleagues, we're not frightened of them. We don't see them as somebody out to get the church. We see them as somebody we need to engage with to correct the wrongs that have happened. SUZANNE SMITH: And the practice of just paying compensation and then leaving the victim alone has ended here. Zimmerman House helps victims access help, and they liaise with police and Government agencies. HELEN KEEVERS: So I guess that belief that we need to engage with people for the rest of their life, if necessary, is a really significant change. SUZANNE SMITH: Bishop Malone organised compensation for Daniel, the victim, and in an Australian first, his diocese also paid Daniel's mother compensation for the trauma and hurt. The rest of the family was offered counselling. BISHOP MICHAEL MALONE: Well, the family have suffered certainly, not as much as the primary victim, and how do you measure as the ripples go out, how do you measure the levels of hurt of different people. And where do you stop in terms of financial settlement to those people? SUZANNE SMITH: And now, Bishop Malone is the only bishop calling for a papal apology when the pontiff visits in July. The Pope has recently apologised to victims in the United States. BISHOP MICHAEL MALONE: My hope would be that the Pope does, because he created a bit of a precedent in the United States recently, and to have that then backed up by a personal meeting with some sexual abuse victims. I think that was an excellent thing to do, and I could only hope that it may have brought considerable healing. SUZANNE SMITH: Because just his presence here may bring up trauma for some people? BISHOP MICHAEL MALONE: No doubt it could. DETECTIVE CHIEF INSPECTOR PETER FOX: I do know speaking to a lot of the victims, a lot of the victims' families that they have told me it would be so important to them to hear the Pope apologise. That is what they're desirous of, and you know I'll be watching with interest. SUZANNE SMITH: Father James Patrick Fletcher died in jail. He is buried amongst other priests of the diocese, but his bitter legacy still casts a shadow over his victims. VICTIM'S MOTHER: I'd like to say that the faith of my parents, they were traditional Catholics, and they knew right and wrong, and fairness and justice. And they supported the Catholic Church all their lives, they had no idea I'd have to harness those beliefs that they had to fight their beloved church. They had no idea I'd have to dig so deep and know what was fair and what was right and have to fight so hard. I'm glad they both didn't know about this struggle. It would have broken their hearts. I'd also like to say that this was my beloved son in whom I was well pleased. SUZANNE SMITH: The staff at Zimmerman House are preparing for more victims to come forward as a result of the Pope's visit, as trauma is often triggered by religious symbolism. The church is yet to announce whether they'll be given an apology. Suzanne Smith, Lateline.
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