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	Sex Abuse Crimes: Ignorance Is Not Bliss By Andrew Eales The Courier June 3, 2011 http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/opinion/editorial/general/sex-abuse-crimes-ignorance-is-not-bliss/2184525.aspx SOMEONE who I admire a great deal yesterday asked me if I was "embarrassed" at the level of coverage provided to two shocking sex abuse cases which occurred in Ballarat which were resolved this week. The suggestion was that the close-knit nature of the Ballarat community would be hurt by the continual association with these disturbing offences. It cannot be denied that the shocking detail which has been dredged over this newspaper and other media organisations across the state, the nation, and indeed the world media this week regarding the cases of Christian Brother Robert Charles Best and three-time convicted sex offender John William Macfie has left people in our community shaking their heads in dismay. Actually, dismay doesn't really even skim the surface. In the case of Best, it is the guilt by association that drives daggers through the church, and general, communities. We agree with those who say that it is not fair that very good people in Ballarat and other regional centres across Victoria who have worked hard to rebuild reputations following the dark period marked by abuse at the hands of multiple members of the Christian Brothers have to endure the shame and derision which inevitably follows such court appearances. But while no person can rewrite history, one leader in the Catholic Church firmly believes the way forward is to the meet the past head-on. Geelong St Mary's Basilica Fr Kevin Dillon this week said Christian Brothers should be focused on repairing the damage to the victims rather than spending large amounts of money fighting court battles where offending was more than likely to have occurred. "Everyone is entitled to a fair trial but if someone is a serial sexual offender there should be a point where enough is enough and we start looking after people whose lives have been destroyed," Fr Dillon told the Geelong Advertiser. "For goodness sake what is happening here with this extraordinary money something is seriously wrong with all this. Lives have been wrecked with such an abysmal betrayal of trust." SOMEONE who I admire a great deal yesterday asked me if I was "embarrassed" at the level of coverage provided to two shocking sex abuse cases which occurred in Ballarat which were resolved this week. The suggestion was that the close-knit nature of the Ballarat community would be hurt by the continual association with these disturbing offences. It cannot be denied that the shocking detail which has been dredged over this newspaper and other media organisations across the state, the nation, and indeed the world media this week regarding the cases of Christian Brother Robert Charles Best and three-time convicted sex offender John William Macfie has left people in our community shaking their heads in dismay. Actually, dismay doesn't really even skim the surface. In the case of Best, it is the guilt by association that drives daggers through the church, and general, communities. We agree with those who say that it is not fair that very good people in Ballarat and other regional centres across Victoria who have worked hard to rebuild reputations following the dark period marked by abuse at the hands of multiple members of the Christian Brothers have to endure the shame and derision which inevitably follows such court appearances. But while no person can rewrite history, one leader in the Catholic Church firmly believes the way forward is to the meet the past head-on. Geelong St Mary's Basilica Fr Kevin Dillon this week said Christian Brothers should be focused on repairing the damage to the victims rather than spending large amounts of money fighting court battles where offending was more than likely to have occurred. "Everyone is entitled to a fair trial but if someone is a serial sexual offender there should be a point where enough is enough and we start looking after people whose lives have been destroyed," Fr Dillon told the Geelong Advertiser. "For goodness sake what is happening here with this extraordinary money something is seriously wrong with all this. Lives have been wrecked with such an abysmal betrayal of trust."
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