Archbishop Ignored Church Offer, by Catherine Hockley, Adelaide Now, September 21, 2011

Archbishop "Ignored" Church Offer

By Catherine Hockley
Adelaide Now
September 21, 2011

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/archbishop-ignored-church-offer/story-e6frea83-1226142190282

Archbishop John Hepworth at his church in Enfield. Picture: Kelly Barnes

ARCHBISHOP John Hepworth was offered an investigation into rape claims two years ago but only authorised the Catholic Church to proceed this year.

The church's Adelaide Archdiocese has provided a letter to The Advertiser that shows Archbishop Hepworth only signed a request for the investigation in February this year despite receiving a request from the archdiocese to authorise the investigation in 2009.

Under the Towards Healing process dealing with abuse claims against the clergy in the Catholic Church, a diocese cannot take action until it is authorised by the complainant.

Archbishop Hepworth has claimed that the archdiocese failed to properly investigate claims when he raised them in 2007.

The Senate was told last week Archbishop Hepworth allegedly was raped more than 40 years ago by priest and former Adelaide archdiocese vicar-general Monsignor Ian Dempsey.

Monsignor Dempsey categorically has denied the allegations.

Archbishop Hepworth's claims of delay prompted Senator Nick Xenophon to raise the issue in the Senate. He used parliamentary privilege to name Monsignor Dempsey and to attack the Adelaide archdiocese for its handling of the case.

Senator Xenophon singled out Monsignor David Cappo, who was dealing with the case.

"I believe the weakness of that response can be traced in part to Monsignor Cappo, who for reasons not fully explained, has failed to act in a timely and decisive manner on this important issue," he told the Senate.

Senator Xenophon called on the Federal Government to revisit its decision to appoint Monsignor Cappo as chairman of the new National Mental Health Commission. Under pressure from a nervous Federal Government fearful of a backlash, Monsignor Cappo last week relinquished the role.

Archbishop Hepworth yesterday said he did not authorise the investigation in 2009 as it was on the condition he was to face Monsignor Dempsey with his allegations.

A spokeswoman for the archdiocese yesterday rejected this, saying there were "no conditions attached to the investigation".

Senator Xenophon last night said six months had passed since the investigation was authorised. "Whichever way they (the archdiocese) put it they failed to treat serious allegations with the urgency they required," he said. "Why didn't the church act with urgency on this to investigate the allegations. It owed it to John Hepworth, it owed it to the priest accused, and it owed it to the parish."

Senator Xenophon has denied implying in Parliament Archbishop Hepworth's allegations related to child sex abuse. In naming Monsignor Dempsey last week, he told the Senate "right now there are parents sending their children to church unaware their priest, in their parish, has been named as an abuser, a rapist.

"Shouldn't the Catholic Church be offering these parents a greater level of protection?"

Archbishop Hepworth said yesterday "that was a long bow".

Senator Xenophon defended his comments, saying that "the intention was to refer to the issue of serious allegations and the need to have them resolved one way or another".