Bishop "Played down" Abuse Allegations to Protect Church: Inquiry

By Dan Cox
ABC News
July 12, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-12/bishop-27played-down27-abuse-allegations-to-protect-church3a/4817240?section=nsw

A former Catholic bishop from the New South Wales Hunter Valley concedes he tried to protect the church's reputation by playing down allegations of abuse by priests.

Former Maitland-Newcastle bishop Michael Malone has told the special commission of inquiry he was "coming to terms" with clergy sexual abuse allegations after taking on the top job in 1995.

The inquiry is examining Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox's claims that the church covered up abuse by two paedophile priests, James Fletcher and Denis McAlinden.

In giving evidence today, Bishop Malone said he was "caught up in the ethos of the church" and "there's a tendency naturally to defend the organisation to which you belong".

He said he was "aware of the impacts (the abuse allegations) were having on the stability of the church" and early on he tried to "prevent the damage by playing down the allegations perhaps, a little".

The commission has heard Catholic canon law required secret archives be kept on priests and that it be "securely closed and bolted".

Canon law also states that documents relating to "criminal cases of moral matters" should be destroyed when the guilty party dies or 10 years has passed.

When asked by counsel assisting the commission Julia Lonergan whether he followed that protocol Bishop Malone said he "didn't destroy any documents".

He joked he "maybe should have" because then he would not have to be in the courtroom today.

He has described sexual abuse as "distasteful and unpalatable" and says that is why he did not fully look at McAlinden's secret files.

When asked by counsel assisting if he encountered resistance from priests regarding clergy sexual abuse, bishop Malone replied "the resistance was never overt but I sensed it by some".

He also told the Commission that the resistance didn't improve with time.

Bishop Malone said he realised he could "no longer sit on the fence" and came out publicly to say he'd be looking after victims rather than trying to defend the church.

The inquiry continues next week.