BishopAccountability.org
	Bishop's Letter of Apology Appreciated by Hunter Victims of Clergy Sexual Abuse The Herald May 10, 2010 http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/bishops-letter-of-apology-appreciated-by-hunter-victims-of-clergy-sexual-abuse/1824726.aspx Newcastle Catholic Bishop Michael Malone's extraordinary letter of apology to the community on Saturday has been applauded by Hunter child sex abuse victims. But they have condemned the continuing silence from other clergy who had roles in the attempted secret defrocking of pedophile priest Denis McAlinden in 1995, including Cessnock-born Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson. "Michael Malone has been prepared to face the music on many occasions, and he's done so with humility and sincerity," said Peter Gogarty, a victim of pedophile priest Jim Fletcher and long-time campaigner on behalf of the church's child sex victims. "The bishop has admitted he's stuffed up, but at least he's confessed up. "He's the only bishop in Australia, as far as I'm aware, who's been willing to do that. Philip Wilson knew about allegations against McAlinden but he's refusing to speak. He looks like he's only going through the motions when he speaks about sexual abuse of children by clergy." On May 4 Archbishop Wilson's office emailed that he had "nothing more to say on the matter" after The Herald published documents showing McAlinden's forced secret defrocking despite church knowledge of his offending, and with assurances by then Bishop Leo Clarke that his "good name would be protected". The church hierarchy was aware of the extent of allegations when it attempted the defrocking in 1995 but failed to contact authorities until 2005. Former Catholic school principal Mike Stanwell, who raised allegations about McAlinden with the then Father Wilson in 1985, said Michael Malone's apology was appreciated. "It's a positive response to all the things that are going on in the Catholic Church at the moment involving child sex abuse, and you have to ask yourself which other senior clergy in Australia have said anything?" Mr Stanwell said. "I think there are some in the church who keep their heads down hoping people will just forget about the issue of abuse when it's not newsworthy." A Newcastle victim of Denis McAlinden said "at least Malone is prepared to speak, but one man can't do it all". "You have to ask if anything's really changed if Malone is left as the scapegoat and the rest say nothing," she said. A Newcastle man who was sexually abused by Hunter priest John Denham said he believed the bishop was genuinely sorry, but the letter was "an attempt to justify the church's failure to respond" in the past.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.