New Inquiry Call after Abuse Cover-up Charges

By Timothy McDonald
ABC News
August 30, 2012

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-31/renewed-inquiry-calls-after-church-abuse-charges/4235178

The survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests have renewed their call for a royal commission after the police in Newcastle charged a former priest with covering up abuse.

Retired Newcastle Catholic priest, Thomas Brennan, has been accused of sexually assaulting a child in the 1980s, and charged with failing to report sexual abuse by defrocked priest John Sidney Denham in the 1970s.

It is believed to be the first time a priest has been charged over an alleged cover-up, and survivors and advocates are hopeful that it might set a precedent.

Bob O'Toole is from the Clergy Abused Network, which helps victims in the Hunter region.

"I think it's a good thing," he said.

"All these things have to come out and be resolved before there can be any real healing, that's my opinion."

In a statement, the Bishop of the Maitland Newcastle Diocese, Bill Wright, described the alleged crimes as 'most grievous'.

But he urged Catholics not to rush to judgment.

"I ask you to pray for all those that have been harmed by the trauma of child abuse; for Father Brennan that he may find the grace to repent if he is rightly accused, or to endure the burden of being wrongly accused; and for the family and friends of all those involved," the statement read.

"I urge all the faithful not to rush into judgment and accept the wisdom and justice of our legal system."

The decision has prompted more calls for a royal commission in New South Wales into sexual abuse within the Church.

The Greens MLC David Shoebridge, who has been active on the issue, will meet with victims groups today to discuss pushing the issue further.

"This matter won't go away, and one prosecution won't resolve it for the Church and it won't resolve it for the government in New South Wales," he said.

"There is a growing body of public opinion calling on the government to act, acknowledging internal inquiries by the Church are totally unacceptable.

"That call for a Royal Commission continues to grow. I'm meeting with victims' groups just today to discuss a way forward, to talk about how we can press the government and get the message out."

Premier Barry O'Farrell has already indicated that he has reservations.

"We've seen in the Hunter, (and) we've seen in relation to matters concerning other dioceses, police investigations ongoing," he said.

"Andrew Scipione has assured me, as Police Commissioner that they're taking these matters seriously.

"There are victims of paedophile priests who are still alive, we should do nothing that gets in the way of those police investigations.

"Victoria is going down a different route, they've got an inquiry.

"We have active police investigations underway and nothing should happen that gets in the way of those investigations and gets in the way of people being brought to justice."

Mr O'Toole says he thinks a royal commission is the only way forward.

"I'm in favour of there being a royal commission as well," he said.

"I think that would really assist in resolving a lot of the problems, and certainly getting to the bottom of it and cleaning out the issue, bringing it out in the open and that way the Church can, I guess, heal itself."