Ballarat Diocese Admits to Destroying Documents Detailing Accusations of Paedophilia

By Annika Smethurst
The Australian
April 30, 2013

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/ballarat-diocese-admits-to-destroying-documents-detailing-accusations-of-paedophilia/story-e6frg6n6-1226631871741



THE Ballarat Diocese has admitted it destroyed documents detailing accusations of paedophilia and moved offending priests to new parishes despite more than 100 case of sexual abuse, a Victorian parliamentary inquiry has heard.

Former Ballarat bishop Peter Connors said the church had effectively facilitated sexual offences against children by placing one of Australia's worst child predators, Gerald Ridsdale, in positions that enabled him to abuse.

The inquiry heard that evidence of Ridsdale's offences first surfaced in 1975 yet he continued to be protected by the church.

Deputy chairman of the Victorian inquiry, MP Frank McGuire, asked the Bishop of Ballarat, Paul Bird, why Ridsdale wasn't reported to police.

"From my reading of the account, it wasn't wilful blindness it was a tragic mistake," Bishop Bird said.

"It was 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 it would correct their behaviour. It proved to be a terrible mistake, and I accept that fully, with tragic consequences."

 

Ridsdale, who abused more than 65 children, was moved to parishes across Victoria including Apollo Bay, Inglewood and Edenhope before he was sent to Mortlake in 1981.

"I think every young man in Mortlake was offended by Ridsdale," Father Connors said.

He was eventually sent to the US for "treatment" where he continued to abuse more victims.

The inquiry also heard that one in four brothers from the St John of God Catholic order has been accused of sexual abuse since the 1940s.

But the Catholic order has denied that paedophiles visited St John of God because of guaranteed proximity to vulnerable children, including the intellectually disabled.

The chairwoman of provinces professional standards committee at St John of God, Rosanna Harris, said the paedophiles acted alone.

"It would appear that the brothers who offended operated independently. That is certainly what comes through," Ms Harris said.

"We accept sadly that there are a number of complaints and that very vulnerable children in our care were damaged and for that we have apologised and we continue to do so."

The inquiry will hear from commissioners from the Melbourne Response and representatives from Catholic Church Insurance today.



Contact: annika.smethurst@news.com.au