The Impact of the Sex Abuse Royal Commission on Rural Australia

By Jessica Swann
ABC Rural
November 21, 2012

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/content/2012/s3637864.htm

Royal Commission to examine child abuse

[with audio]

In rural Australia the Church still plays an important role in bringing the community together, but when the Church is under intense scrutiny, rural parishioners question their faith in God and in the Catholic Church.

This week the Australian government has called for public help to shape the terms of reference of a Royal Commission into child sex abuse in Australia.

The investigation will be broad including schools, community groups and religious institutions.

It also announced there will be consultations with stakeholders including victims of abuse, community leaders and religious groups.

It’s the Catholic Church however that is the feeling the heat the most.

For one small parish in rural New South Wales, the pews were full last Sunday but the parishioners expressed a deep sense of disappointment and confusion at what is shaping up to be an avalanche of accusations against members of the clergy within the Catholic Church.

One parishioner noted that the pain of sex abuse allegations within the Church is having a devastating effect on the community.

“The priests that have/are abusing children are not doing God’s work. They are living a lie and using the sanctity of the church as a shield. I am not upset about the fact that these men and women are hopefully now going to be held accountable but about the fact that some of our leaders are still trying to defend the stand of the church.

"The leaders should now be supporting the Royal Commission totally with no buts. They need to be open and honest, take responsibility and fix this situation now. That is the only way that we, as Catholics are going to be able to move forward with dignity.

"Many victims will never get over their ordeals and I can say that they will definitely not forget but knowing that they are being heard can be consoling”.

Adding to the complexity of the healing process and as a result of very few Australian’s choosing to enter the priesthood, this small parish in rural NSW, like many rural communities has a priest of foreign nationality.

The parish priest expressed that as a leader in the church, he is also troubled by the allegations adding that so much of this issue within the Catholic Church in Australia and across society is outside of his working knowledge.

There have been no reported allegations of abuse at the small parish.

The ABC has chosen to keep the identity of the parishioners and the rural location of the church private.