Inquiry Told Paedophile Priest Used Prayer to Control Abuse Tendencies

By Dan Cox
ABC News
July 11, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-11/inquiry-told-paedophile-priest-used-prayer-to-control-abuse-ten/4815028


The former Bishop of the Catholic Church in the NSW Hunter Valley says he knew a paedophile priest had a psychological condition that made him an ongoing threat to children.

Former Maitland-Newcastle Bishop Michael Malone is giving evidence at the inquiry which was sparked by policeman Peter Fox.

Detective Chief Inspector Fox says the church covered up abuse by father James Fletcher and father Denis McAlinden.

Bishop Malone says he knew about the abuse but did not tell police because the victims did not want to press charges.

Bishop Malone told the public hearings today McAlinden "thought his tendency to sexual abuse was somehow controlled by prayer and the sacraments".

He said that was "ridiculous" because McAlinden had a "psychological condition".

He agreed with counsel assisting the commission that that meant McAlinden was "more likely to prey on children".

Bishop Malone said he would have gone to police earlier if his predecessor, Bishop Leo Clarke, told him more about the allegations against McAlinden.

But the commission also heard Bishop Malone did not explore McAlinden's confidential personnel files because "the whole area of sexual abuse is so distasteful and I wouldn't have found it palatable", he said.

The former Bishop admits his response to McAlinden's abuse was not adequate because he "did not dig and explore" the priest's files.

He said he was "fairly bumbly" when dealing with allegations and "the lights went on" when the 2004 Ombudsman inquiry found he wasn't adequately handling the matters.

Bishop Malone said it was in early 1996 that he was "toying with the idea" of taking McAlinden to police.

But the commission has heard it was in August 1999 that he asked the church's Professional Standards Office to make a formal statement to the authorities.

The commission heard Bishop Malone told a victim McAlinden had a file so big "you can't jump over it", but described the comment as hyperbole.

The inquiry continues tomorrow.