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	Religious Order Declares It Will Continue to Stand by Sex Offender Robert Best By Norrie Ross Herald Sun August 10, 2011 http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/religious-order-declares-it-will-continue-to-stand-by-sex-offender-robert-best/story-fn7x8me2-1226111925240 DEVIANT Christian Brother Robert Best will be offered the continued support of his order after he serves a prison sentence for his decades-long abuse of vulnerable young boys. The Christian Brothers say they have no plans to expel Best and that their continued support of him is a public service. And they have sought to justify their financing of Best's defence at a series of trials during which victims of the paedophile were compelled to relive their experiences in the witness box. Despite their support for 70-year-old Best, the Brothers say they will co-operate with any public inquiry into sex abuse within the Catholic Church - a major demand of victims and their families. Br Brian Brandon, executive officer for professional standards for the Christian Brothers Oceania, said Best had been removed from contact with children as soon as the organisation learned of the allegations against him in the 1990s. "The Christian Brothers did not know what charges, if any, he might be found guilty of until the series of recent trials concluded," he said. "It would not be our intention to expel him from the Christian Brothers, even if we had the power to do so," he told the Herald Sun. "If he is ever released from prison, we believe that we would be doing a service to the community by keeping him where his conduct can be monitored." Jailing Best on Monday for 11 1/4 years for the abuse of 11 boys, Judge Roy Punshon said his crimes were a grave breach of trust by a teacher and spiritual guide. Best was a teacher at St Alipius Primary School in Ballarat, St Leo's College in Box Hill, and St Joseph's College in Geelong. Br Brandon said most of Best's victims had been compensated under the Catholic Church's Towards Healing process. But one victim called for the program to be scrapped, saying compensation was inadequate. "We need a public inquiry to ask the church why they transferred offending Christian Brothers from one diocese to another, and what reporting mechanisms they had," he said. He was also unsurprised his abuser would remain a Christian Brother. "It's ridiculous," he said. Lawyer Vivian Waller, who is acting for some victims, said there was evidence some Christian Brothers were told of the abuse in the 1960s, and boys who complained were beaten until they recanted. She said she had no problem with the Brothers financing Best's defence, but it was a "bit late" to say they would monitor his behaviour. "I would hope they would ... pick up his personal tab for the damage and the harm he's caused by paying compensation," Ms Waller said. Contact: rossn@heraldsun.com.au
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