DVD 'Raw and Confronting' Story of Clergy Sexual Abuse

By Dan Cox
ABC News
February 27, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-27/dvd-27raw-and-confronting27-story-of-clergy-sexual-abuse/4541986?§ion=news

Bob O'Toole was sexually assaulted by a Newcastle Marist brother

A new DVD, commissioned by the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Diocese, aims to raise the awareness of the impact of child sexual abuse at the hands of church workers.

Around a hundred people were at the Newcastle launch of the DVD titled, 'Breaking the Silence'.

Pat Feenan's son Daniel was sexually assaulted by a Catholic priest from the age of 12.

She says he was sometimes assaulted between church services.

"He left one mass, he took my son to another mass to be an extra altar boy , and he abused him in the car," she said.

"That's disgraceful."

Ms Feenan says she has shared Daniel's story on the DVD in order to give survivors a stronger voice.

"All those good people who didn't get it, and didn't understand - we could do with their support," she said.

"I hope many, many people embrace the message."

Bob O'Toole was sexually assaulted by a Marist brother while he attended a Newcastle school.

He says he hopes sharing his story helps other survivors.

"And also, particularly because I wanted other people within the Catholic community to understand what it's all about."

Mr O'Toole says sharing his story may encourage more people to talk about their own situations.

"The ones that come forward and speak are a minority," he said.

"There are many, many more that just don't have the courage to do that, and I'm hoping that it might encourage some more people to come out."

Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Bishop Bill Wright was at the launch and says it is a powerful DVD.

"Two people, very wonderfully and honestly, telling the stories of how sexual abuse has affected them," he said.

"And I think that's a story that we all need to hear a lot more of.

"It's a powerful presentation and a powerful story.

"I imagine for a lot of people (it will be) very confronting, very raw."

Bishop Wright says he hopes the DVD will bring about a significant change in attitude towards the issue.

"The aims are to have the community, particularly of the church in this diocese, understand better how it is for victims," he said.

"These stories are more about the people - how it's affected their lives and so on, down the years - just to get a sense of what it's really like, beyond the headline."