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	No Sentence Will Truly Heal Suffering of Best's Victims The Courier August 8, 2011 http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/opinion/editorial/general/no-sentence-will-truly-heal-suffering-of-bests-victims/2252051.aspx WHATEVER the sentence convicted paedophile Christian Brother Robert Charles Best received yesterday, it was never going to be adequate. Not adequate for the victims who remain, not adequate for the families of victims who have passed on, not adequate for a church community which continues to deal with the fallout from the heinous events of the 1960s, 70s and 80s in Ballarat. The rage directed towards Best at his sentencing in Melbourne yesterday was vicious. It was living proof that the pain associated with his offending remains omni- present. That he has fought many of the claims made against him, despite numerous previous convictions for abuse of young boys, and that he continues as a Christian Brother, provides further ammunition to campaigners and victims' rights groups who suggest that the perpetrators and their churches have failed to align with community values in dealing with sexual abuse of children. The cases of abuse in Ballarat are not isolated. Father Gerald Ridsdale, Christian Brother Edward Dowlan and now deceased Brother Fitzgerald have been accused of serious acts of abuse. Ridsdale and Dowlan were convicted and sentenced to jail. They were joined with Best at Christian Brothers' St Alipius school in Ballarat's east in 1971. Judge Roy Punshon said Best's offending was a grave breach of trust due to his role as a teacher and spiritual guide. "Because of your power and position of authority, victims who were young and immature commonly felt powerless and unable to complain, either at all or effectively," he said. This remains the most heart-wrenching indictment of the actions of Best and is the common theme of abuse within the church. The search for justice has claimed untold lives. According to Detective Sergeant Kevin Carson of the Ballarat Criminal Investigation Unit, at least 26 victims of sexual abuse in Ballarat have committed suicide. As we saw in court yesterday, for those who live on, the ordeal cannot be escaped. We would like to write today that the sentencing of Robert Charles Best closes a chapter of darkness in the history of the church and in the history of Ballarat. It is true that it may provide some closure to everyone who has been impacted. But it is unlikely that wounds which have been opened in this tragic and despicable case can ever heal 100 per cent. It's a sad reality in a situation where everyone directly, or indirectly, is left to deal with the fallout from the actions of deplorable individuals who deserve penalties in line with the life sentences that their victims are dealt. Note: If you have been the victim of sexual abuse, you can seek help at the Victorian Centres Against Sexual Assault: 1800 806 292 or www.casa.org.au. People experiencing personal problems can contact the Suicide Helpline Victoria on 1300 651 251 or Lifeline on 131 114.
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