Archbishop Denies Church Abuse Cover-Up

9 News
April 13, 2012

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8451099

[with video]

Melbourne's Catholic Archbishop has denied the church covered up claims of sexual abuse by clergy.

A police report linking dozens of suicides to sexual abuse by clergymen will be passed onto the state coroner for further investigation, Victoria Police said on Friday.

Deputy Commissioner Graham Ashton said the Catholic Church had a duty to report any allegations as soon as it became aware of them and in the past the church had often waited for victims to come forward to police.

Archbishop Denis Hart said the Catholic Church had a good relationship with police and fully co-operated with investigations.

"I reject absolutely the allegations that the Melbourne Archdiocese has covered up crimes," he told journalists on Friday.

Archbishop Hart said the church encouraged abuse victims to go to police but respected their right to privacy.

"Whilst it is understandable police want all crimes reported, the church had to weigh this against the right of each victim to make their own decision," he said.

Archbishop Hart said victims who did not wish to go to police were offered counselling, treatment and compensation.

Archbishop Hart said the church is doing whatever it can to co-operate with police and assist victims.

"If a victim comes to us ... and they refuse to go to police we're caught a difficult position," he said.

Archbishop Hart denied there were systemic failures in the church's response to abuse that led to the suicides.

"I believe the whole trauma of the abuse and behaviour of the individuals who are the abusers have wrecked people's lives. It's been very difficult for us ... to arrest that," he said.

"That is a source of continued pain to me."

The police report lists the cases of at least 40 boys and young men who committed suicide after being abused, the majority by convicted Catholic clergymen Brother Robert Charles Best and Father Gerald Ridsdale.

Police investigating the Best case said last year they believed there were at least two dozen victims of sexual abuse at schools in which he taught who had committed suicide.

Archbishop Hart said he had not raised the issue when it came to light nine months ago, because it involved another diocese.

He said the church would co-operate fully with any inquiry into the matter.

"We have nothing to hide. We remain very concerned about victims' right of privacy."