By Michael Crutcher
Courier Mail
February 20, 2009
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25083343-952,00.html
THE Catholic Church continues to let a priest hold a position of authority in Brisbane despite admitting he once sexually abused a fellow priest.
The Courier-Mail has obtained a letter signed by the five most powerful men in the Queensland church, including Archbishop John Bathersby, admitting that they responded poorly to the victim's complaint and that they acknowledged that he continued to suffer from the abuse.
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| KEPT quiet ... Catholic Archbishop John Bathersby signed a letter of apology to a young priest sexually abused by another priest. |
The revelation hits the news just as Archbishop Bathersby sacked rebel priest Peter Kennedy from St Mary's at South Brisbane, urging him to retire from the priesthood for contradicting accepted church teaching.
The Courier-Mail cannot name the abuser or his younger victim because of legal reasons.
Police were not called on to investigate the series of incidents, which occurred between 1997 and 2000. The church apologised in 2006 after the victim's family had engaged a lawyer because they were not satisfied with the church's response.
The newspaper has seen correspondence dealing with the case, in which Archbishop Bathersby refers to the victim being "annoyed" by the perpetrator. The correspondence is a revealing insight into the workings of the Queensland church hierarchy, in which Archbishop Bathersby makes it clear that his authority is not to be challenged.
The letter of apology to the victim was signed on October 30, 2006, by the bishops of Queensland's five dioceses - Bathersby (Brisbane), Brian Heenan (Rockhampton), James Foley (Cairns), William Morris (Toowoomba) and Michael Putney (Townsville).
"We acknowledged the impact that the actions of (priest's name withheld) had upon you," the five bishops wrote.
"We regret that we did not respond more adequately and we offer you our sincere apology for the hurt you experienced at the time, and its ongoing effects upon your life."
It is understood the perpetrator was demoted from a position in the aftermath of the findings but he still retains authority in his current role.
The victim of the assault had complained about three separate incidents on church property, including two when another priest was sleeping in the same house unaware of the approaches.
He told other priests of the incidents but did not formally seek action from church leaders until 2002.
The victim and his family have refused to speak with The Courier-Mail, other than to claim they were satisfied with the resolution and were angry that the matter had been brought to its attention.
The perpetrator did not return the newspaper's calls.
Archbishop Bathersby would not be interviewed regarding this story. The church also refused to respond to questions but released a statement confirming "that there was a complaint of inappropriate behaviour brought by one priest against another in 2006".
"At the request of the complainant, the matter was not made public. It is still his wish that the matter remain confidential," the statement read.
"The Church can confirm there have been no further complaints received about the priest referred to in this matter either before or after this incident occurred."
Letters show that the victim was later given "two periods of special leave with a cost estimate of $3000 each".
The victim was advised to claim any bills from his counselling through Medicare and that the church would pay the difference for anything above the rebate.
The church admitted last year that another priest - convicted pedophile Ron McKiernan - was still celebrating Mass in Brisbane despite having served time in jail.
Another priest still serves in Queensland despite being fined by a court almost 13 years ago for a sexual offence in a public toilet.
Claims that the Catholic Church had covered up sexual abuse became a damaging sidelight to last year's World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney.
Australia's Catholic leader Cardinal George Pell spoke of "the lusts of the flesh" in a speech to World Youth Day pilgrims.
Victims group Broken Rites said inadequate responses from the church were sometimes as damaging as the initial abuse.
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