Report Uncovers Errors of the Past

By Paul Dobbyn
Catholic Leader
January 27, 2013

http://www.catholicleader.com.au/news.php/top-stories/report-uncovers-errors-of-the-past_83813

A REPORT commissioned by the bishops of Parramatta and Armidale into how Church authorities dealt with a priest who allegedly sexually abused boys for nearly a decade in the 1980s and '90s in those dioceses has revealed severe deficiencies in procedures at the time.

The subject of the report, Fr "F", removed from ministry in 1992, was believed responsible for multiple cases of sexual abuse of boys in parishes in Armidale and Parramatta dioceses.

Two of Fr F's alleged victims suicided at the age of 28.

However, former Federal Court judge Antony Whitlam QC, who conducted the inquiry, said "had the procedures for reporting child abuse laid down in that document (the Church's Towards Healing protocol) been in force in 1984 and observed in Moree at the time, 'Fr F' would have been stopped in his tracks".

The TV program Four Corners in early July last year examined alleged abuses involving Fr F.

It asked why, despite clear evidence of abuse, Fr F had been able to move from parish to parish, apparently without the police being alerted.

The program Unholy Silence also raised questions over an official meeting of Fathers Brian Lucas, John Usher and Wayne Peters (the latter two are now monsignors) with Fr F in 1992, alleging that the accused priest had made admissions at the time.

Mr Whitlam started his independent inquiry in late July 2012 into the way the dioceses dealt with child abuse allegations against Fr F.

In December 2012, he handed his report to commissioning Bishops Anthony Fisher of Parramatta and Michael Kennedy of Armidale.

Bishop Kennedy, in his latest media statement, said "we promptly gave the report to the NSW Police to seek their advice as to anything in the report that should not be made public".

"We received that advice on the 8th January 2013, and accepted it in full. Consequently the names of all alleged victims and their family members have been altered," he said.

Subsequently, Bishops Kennedy and Fisher, in a joint media statement, accepted the report's findings and both issued public apologies for the Church's shortcomings in the matter.

"All sexual abuse is a crime and is to be condemned," they said.

"The bishops offer their profound apologies to all victims of child sexual abuse and will continue to work to bring them justice and healing."

Bishop Fisher said he was renewing his "undertaking personally to pray and do penance ... for the necessary purification of the Church" and called on Catholic clergy, religious and laity to do likewise.

He also included a summary of Mr Whitlam's report into the management of Fr F and how this impacted on Parramatta diocese.

Then Armidale Bishop Henry Kennedy's errors of judgement were a major theme in the report.

In one case, Fr F was arrested and charged with serious sexual offences in August 1987 (later dismissed due to insufficient evidence) and subsequently stood down from all parish duties.

Fr F then wrote to Bishop Bede Heather of Parramatta diocese to "discuss the possibility of going on loan for your diocese".

Bishop Heather spoke to Bishop Henry Kennedy who said Fr F had made a "great recovery" and that he would like him back in Armidale in 12 months.

Mr Whitlam's report notes "He (Bishop Henry Kennedy) based this on the professional opinion" of a psychologist.

Mr Whitlam said "critical information" about allegations against Fr F was not provided to Bishop Heather.

Armidale's Bishop Michael Kennedy, in a media statement, made several comments about the report.

Among these comments are:

The report finds that the response and management undertaken by the Diocese of Armidale, particularly that of my predecessor, Bishop Henry Kennedy, was in fact deficient.

Mr Whitlam comments on poor record keeping, ineffective assessments, inefficient inquiries, inadequate response to and treatment of victims and their families, and a failure to share important information.

Many mistakes have been made and much has been learnt by the Church in responding to allegations and preventing the sexual abuse of children.

Mr Whitlam QC comments that had today's procedures for reporting child abuse by the Catholic Church and current Church protocols regarding the transfer of priests been in force and observed in 1984, Fr F would have been "stopped in his tracks".

Mr Whitlam QC concludes there was no "cover up" in connection with the 1992 meeting of Monsignors Wayne Peters and John Usher and Father Paul Lucas with Fr F.

"After twenty years", he says, "it is hardly surprising that all three men have different recollections of what was said".

He notes that each of them brought different background knowledge to the meetings and that there was likely confusion between that which Fr F stated as fact and that which was mere fantasy.

Bishop Kennedy said "In light of this report and mindful of the Royal Commission, I pledge to undertake a review of all our diocesan child protection policies in order to ensure best-practice for the sake of our children both now and in the future."

The report is available online at the Diocese of Armidale website: armidale.catholic.org.au and Diocese of Parramatta website: www.parra.catholic.org.au