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	Papal Apology Sought during World Youth Day By Suzanne Smith ABC News May 26, 2008 http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2256270.htm MARK COLVIN: There's still no confirmation from the Catholic Church of press reports that the Pope will make an apology for the Church's history of sexual abuse when he visits Sydney in July. Bishop Michael Malone is the only Catholic Bishop in Australia calling for a papal apology. He wants the Pontiff to see a group of victims when he arrives for World Youth Day in July. But the story behind why the Bishop of the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese in NSW is calling for an apology is one of shocking abuse and congregations ripped apart It's also a story of betrayal. How the Catholic Church fought a family's court battle to get a paedophile priest removed from duty and into jail. And now the leading police investigator in the case has told the ABC that he's concerned about the level of clergy abuse in the Hunter Region and that victims deserve a Papal apology. Lateline's Suzanne Smith prepared this report. SUZANNE SMITH: Bishop Michael Malone's mea culpa is driven by one particular case, that of Father James Patrick Fletcher, or Father Jim as he was known. MICHAEL MALONE: I just find abuse in any form, whether it's sexual, physical, psychological - totally repulsive. I find it more repulsive in a priest who has a duty of trust to the people whom he serves SUZANNE SMITH: Fletcher died in jail in 2006 after abusing at least 4 young boys over a period of more than 20 years. One particular case ripped a family and the congregation apart. Daniel and his parents were devout Catholics when father fletcher arrived at the Clarence town parish in the late 1980s. Daniel was 11-years-old. Concerned Father Fletcher knew no one in the parish, Daniel's family befriended him, a memory that leaves a bitter taste for Daniel's mother, who wants to remain anonymous. DANIEL'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 grooming of Daniel began with offerings of lollies in the back of the church as Daniel changed into his vestments. When Daniel attended high school Father Fletcher would turn up and offer him a lift home. These offers would eventually lead to violent anal and oral sex in open air locations, such as the Walka Water Works. As court documents show Father Fletcher threatened Daniel if he ever revealed what went on. JAMES FLETCHER (voiceover): Remember our secret. I could hurt one of your brothers. SUZANNE SMITH: The abuse ended when Daniel became too strong mentally for Fletcher, around the age of 17. After several years of anguish he finally contacted the police in 2002 at the age of 25. DANIEL'S MOTHER: I now know that your worst dream can come true. Your worst nightmare as a mother. Daniel's brave. H's had a big struggle and he's a fine person. SUZANNE SMITH: But from the start the church jeopardised the investigation. When Daniel's father told Bishop Michael Malone of Daniel's decision, the Bishop went straight to Father Fletcher and alerted him to the investigation. The police were angry. They had not had time to search Fletcher's presbytery for evidence. MICHAEL MALONE: 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: Do you think that was a wrong decision now in hindsight? MICHAEL MALONE: I think so yes. SUZANNE SMITH: That wouldn't happen now? MICHAEL MALONE: Certainly not No. SUZANNE SMITH: But Bishop Malone concedes his next decision was his biggest mistake. Despite an official warning from the chief police investigator in the case, Bishop Malone did not stand Father Fletcher aside. Indeed, six months after the official warning Bishop Malone moved Father Fletcher to the Branxton parish and then widened his duties to include neighbouring Lochinvar. DANIEL'S MOTHER: It made me very indignant and it made me realise that they didn't understand what paedophilia was about. Paedophilia is not about physical strength, it's about power. 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 have lead to him being stood aside and then the case unfolding. SUZANNE SMITH: His supporters challenged his conviction all the way to the High Court because the prosecutors decided to use evidence from other victims, what's known as tendency evidence, to show a paedophile's form or history. The High Court challenge failed and now tendency evidence is used in all similar cases. Chief Inspector Peter Fox has been involved in several investigations in the Hunter area. He is concerned by the level of clergy abuse 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: Detective Fox also thinks the victims would benefit from a papal apology. PETER FOX: I do know speaking to 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: Following Fletcher's conviction, Bishop Malone moved quickly to commission a report into the child protection needs of the diocese and out of that report became Zimmerman House. It's a place where victims and their families can come to receive advice, deal with authorities and get the church's help and support. Helen Keevers is the manager of Zimmerman House. HELEN KEEVERS: But I do think it signifies change in a couple of areas. The way that 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 who's out to get the church, we see them as someone who we need to engage with to correct the wrongs. SUZANNE SMITH: Bishop Malone doesn't want to raise victim's expectations but he hopes the Pope will apologise when he arrives in July. MICHAEL MALONE: My hope would be that the Pope does because he created a bit of a precedent in the United States recently. And I think; I had no idea that he was going to do that but I think it was a very, very good thing to do. SUZANNE SMITH: Because just his presence here may bring up trauma for some people. MICHAEL MALONE: Oh, no doubt it could. MARK COLVIN: The Catholic Bishop of Maitland Newcastle Michael Malone ending Suzanne Smith's report. And you can see Suzanne's full report on tonight's edition of Lateline on ABC Television.
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