Church Told of Abuse by Vic Priest

By Daniel Fogarty
Daily Telegraph
April 29, 2013

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/church-told-of-abuse-by-vic-priest/story-e6freuz0-1226631829544



THE former bishop of Ballarat made a "tragic mistake" by not removing one of Australia's worst pedophiles when he first became aware of sexual abuse allegations against the priest, the current bishop of the diocese admits.

Bishop Ronald Mulkearns knew about child abuse complaints against Father Gerald Ridsdale as early as 1975 but let him remain as a priest and moved him to other parishes, a Victorian parliamentary inquiry has heard.

Church records reveal 67 abuse complaints have been made against Risdale, who is currently in jail for sex offences.

The church admitted on Monday that it effectively facilitated abuse by allowing a known abuser to continue to have access to children.

In 1975 police told Bishop Mulkearns of complaints against Ridsdale, but he was moved to other parishes, the inquiry heard.

Ridsdale should have been removed when a child abuse complaint was first made, current Ballarat bishop Paul Bird said.

"From my reading of the accounts it wasn't wilful blindness. It was a tragic mistake on his part," Bishop Bird told the child abuse inquiry on Monday.

"He explained it to me ... It was, he believed, the accepted opinion at the time that dismissal was not the first option, but that a person might be referred for treatment in the hope that they can correct their behaviour.

"Tragic consequences. A terrible mistake on behalf of Bishop Mulkearns.

"Gerald Risdale should have been taken out of the ministry when there was a first report of offences."

Bishop Bird said Bishop Mulkearns decided against appearing before the parliamentary committee because he had recently suffered a stroke and had a poor long-term memory.

Another former Ballarat bishop, Peter Connors, agreed the church had effectively facilitated sexual offences against children by putting a known offending priest in positions that enabled him to continue his abuse.

The inquiry heard 109 abuse complaints have been upheld in the Ballarat diocese since 1975, most against Ridsdale.

Bishop Connors said he had been told by a victim about a ring of pedophiles in Ballarat East, but as far as he knew Risdale acted alone.

"I have no knowledge of a priest being involved in a nest of pedophiles in Ballarat East. If the Christian Brothers were, I can't answer for them," Bishop Connors said.

Bishop Connors also told the inquiry Bishop Mulkearns destroyed two documents, both relating to psychological reports for a priest, Father Paul David Ryan.

He destroyed one on his on volition and one on legal advice.