I Was Sexually Abused by Catholic Priests - S'Pore Woman
Malaysia Chronicle
A woman has written a book in which she makes an explosive claim - she was sexually abused by two Catholic priests when she was a teenager growing up in Singapore. And when she told her mother about the first incident, she was chided for tempting the priest. She was then sent for counselling with another priest, who also sexually abused her. The author is Ms Jane Leigh, a 36-year-old single mother of two teenagers. She now lives in Melbourne, where she runs her own practice as a clinical psychotherapist. Her book, My Nine Lives, which carries the subhead "A psychotherapist's journey from victim to survivor", was published last year. An only child, she attended a girls' school in the eastern part of Singapore and grew up in a religious family. She moved to Australia in 1995 to further her studies and is now an Australian citizen. So why is she making these claims now when the alleged wrongdoings took place more than 20 years ago? In a phone interview with The New Paper, Ms Leigh said she had written the book to help other abuse victims speak up. It was not an attempt to dig up the past or seek revenge. "This book is about giving other abuse victims hope and inspiration to come forward, to let them know this was what happened to me. To let them know it's okay to talk about it, you're not alone." The book is not just her way of accepting what had happened, but also her hope that "justice would prevail one day" and an attempt to lead a normal life, she added. Ms Leigh has opened up about her ordeal in print and on air in Australia - how an outing for ice-cream with a Catholic priest 20 years older than her led to dinners, movies and finally, sexual abuse. For example, visits to Changi Airport's viewing gallery would be marked by kissing and groping. Ms Leigh told TNP she was 14 when she had sexual relations with the priest. Detail after detail poured out, of how things with the "very good-looking man" soured two years later and how she was sent for counselling and was sexually assaulted by a second priest. Recounting what happened that fateful night, Ms Leigh said the latter drove her to Mount Faber against her wishes and molested her. She confided in her mother, but was blamed for their transgressions instead, she said. Her mother, who lives in Singapore, declined to speak to TNP. Though she used pseudonyms instead of naming the alleged culprits, the book mentions the order the first priest is from - a move that could have legal consequences. (See report on facing page.) When TNP told the two men about the allegations, they were shocked and said that Ms Leigh's claims are false. The first priest recalled that Ms Leigh had gone abroad at a young age and married young. Asked if there was a relationship between them, he said: "No, nothing like that." The second priest has left the clergy. While he was unsure if Ms Leigh was the one he counselled many years ago, he recalled a student who was "rather taken" with the first priest. Calling the teen "a sweet girl", he said she had seemed infatuated and he had advised her accordingly. A source close to Ms Leigh's family was shocked at what the book detailed. "Jane was always a cheerful girl," the person recalled. "I had no idea about what she claimed in the book, no idea that all this was going on... If she wants to fight, she should go to the authorities and show proof." Another shocker: Ms Leigh also claims in the book that her parents got her to give her father oral sex. The book features a letter she wrote to her late father about the family's unusual TV time, during which her parents would be fondling each other. In the letter, she said her parents did not try to conceal what they were doing in front of her. "To make matters worse, you both got me involved in the process and had me do the same thing she was doing to you, and I would even kiss and fondle your private body parts." She was six years old then. TNP understands the Professional Standards Office of the Archdiocese of Singapore, which handles complaints of sexual abuse against children and young people, has asked Ms Leigh to make an official report. Its spokesman said: "To ensure impartiality in the manner in which it deals out justice to both the alleged victims and perpetrators, the PSO encourages victims to make a police report for serious complaints." The Office also involves the laity in the investigations and assessment. The spokesman added: "The Church has a strong preference that the complaints which are criminal in nature be referred to the police, so that the case can be dealt with appropriately through the justice system. "Where the facts are sufficiently credible, then the Church considers it mandatory to report to the police in accordance with the requirements under Singapore laws." But Ms Leigh doubts that she will do so. "At the end of the day, I'm not going to put myself through the pain and anguish," she said. She's also concerned about being "put through the shredder", which could affect her children. "What's the point of me stepping forward when it's their word against mine?" she said, citing the lack of proof like notes, which she purportedly handed over to the first priest's colleague years ago. Won't that lead to suspicions that she made the claims as part of a publicity stunt for her book? "That's inevitable. Whatever authors write, there's going to be positive reviews and negative reviews," she said. "People can say whatever they want, but those who have gone through what I've gone through will know exactly (what I mean)." She was diagnosed with chronic depression and suffered a mental breakdown in 2002. Is she worried her medical history will work to her disadvantage? "If people are going to judge me because of what I went through, then they're not worth my time," she said. "The book is not meant for people to criticise those with depression. It's meant to help those with mental illness." Ms Leigh said that since the book's publication, there has been only positive feedback, with a filmmaker contacting her to make a documentary about her life. So it was not written to get revenge on those who wronged her? "If you've read my book, you'll notice the tone is not of vengeance," she said. "I don't hate the people who abused me. I'm angry, yes. If I had wanted revenge, I would have done so a long time ago, but that's not what it's about. "Even if (the wrongdoers) are punished, it won't change a thing."
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