Abuse Sidelines Church in Public Debate, Says Archbishop

Cath News
October 25, 2012

http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=33720


The Archbishop of Perth says the Church's "shameful" history of sexual abuse has resulted in it no longer being "heard or respected" in public debate, reports The West Australian.

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, writing in The Record, said there was a growing gap between Catholic values and those accepted in society, with the Church "sidelined, attacked and ridiculed" for expressing its views on everything from abortion and marriage to the treatment of asylum seekers.

Archbishop Costelloe suggested the Church must shoulder some blame for its loss of community standing.

His comments come amid renewed criticism of the Church's methods for dealing with abuse allegations, which have been aired at Victoria's parliamentary inquiry into child sexual abuse.

"One of the reasons why our voice is not heard or respected when we seek to proclaim our beliefs is the shameful reality of sexual abuse by clergy, religious and other Church personnel," Archbishop Costelloe wrote.

"As the new Archbishop of Perth, I would like to express my own horror of these terrible crimes, which have brought so much suffering to so many people. The victims of sexual abuse deserve our compassion, our admiration and our support."

The Archbishop apologised to victims and their families.

"I intend to work closely with my collaborators and advisers to deal fully and compassionately with any instances of abuse and to do all we can to . . . minimise the risk of such things ever happening again," he said.