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	Churches Urged to Review Sexual Abuse Handling By Rafael Epstein Australian Broadcasting Corporation August 11, 2009 http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2008/s2652986.htm There are growing calls within Melbourne's Catholic Church for a review of the way the church deals with sexual abuse claims against priests. Geelong's senior catholic priest says the church's complaints commission, needs an external review. The calls come as The Age newspaper revealed the archbishop of Melbourne told one alleged abuse victim to go to hell. Transcript TONY JONES, PRESENTER: There are growing calls within Melbourne's Catholic hierarchy for a review of the way the Church deals with sexual abuse claims against priests. Geelong's senior Catholic priest says the Church's complaints commission needs an external review. It was reported last week that the Archbishop of Melbourne told an alleged abuse victim to "go to hell, bitch". The Age newspaper revealed that the courts have granted the Archbishop two intervention orders against the woman, who was pursuing him for action on her claims she had been abused by a priest. Rafael Epstein reports. RAFAEL EPSTEIN, REPORTER: A former nun, Catherine Arthur was abused in the 1970's... CATHERINE ARTHUR, FORMER NUN: I think it has a profound effect. In my case, it was completely unexpected, and it would have never crossed my mind that a clergyman would offend me. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: The priest responsible was Barry Whelan. The Church found him guilty of abuse on three occasions. CATHERINE ARTHUR: I thought I was the only one and many years later of course I found out I was only one of many. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart was directly approached by another woman allegedly abused by Barry Whelan. She knocked on his door at 1 am, and a Melbourne court was told he said to her, "Go to hell, bitch". In 2004 the Archbishop apologised for those words in court. He successfully applied for two intervention orders against the woman after she was accused of stalking him. Archbishop Denis Hart says he doesn't remember what he said. Victims groups are dismayed by Melbourne's senior Catholic cleric. HELEN LAST, ‘IN GOOD FAITH’ VICTIMS GROUP: I see it as indicative of how they're responding. Victims become pushed to do those sorts of things. They become desperate in their expression ... therefore I believe the Archbishop has missed very much an understanding of that situation for that woman. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: More than a decade ago the Church in Melbourne set up a separate commission to deal with claims of abuse. The current Archbishop says it's very successful. DENIS HART, ARCHBISHOP, MELBOURNE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE: The overwhelming group are satisfied and pleased with the help the Church wants to give, and we want to keep on helping people, but I believe that the claim comes from a small group which have had difficulty finding closure and finding healing. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Victims groups disagree. HELEN LAST: It totally achieves what it wants to achieve and that is to deflect legal liability for the Archdiocese and the Archbishop. It misses any appropriate understanding of a victim's life, of a victim's needs, the rights they have now in our society. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: One of the senior priests within the Archdiocese says the system needs an external review. KEVIN DILLON, PRIEST: Well I think in reality independence as a totality would be needed and we'd have to look for someone totally outside of the Church - is usually the best way to be seen to be completely independent. The whole saga of clerical sex abuse is an enormous problem. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Another priest later found guilty of abuse was told police were investigating him, when the Church commission wrote to his lawyer. The Archbishop says that was appropriate DENIS HART: Certainly have respected the activities of the police and there's been no complaint from the police. It is a matter in which there has been a conviction. CATHERINE ARTHUR: I think it wouldn't take a great deal of compassion and understanding to reach out to these people, but that's just not happening. Rafael Epstein, Lateline
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