Bishop Says Sorry for UK School Abuse

By Paul Ward
Herald Sun AUSTRALIA
August 5, 2013

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/bishop-says-sorry-for-uk-school-abuse/story-fni0xqll-1226691125072

A SENIOR Scotland Catholic has apologised to pupils from a former boarding school in the Highlands amid claims of sexual and physical abuse by monks, two of whom are believed to be Australian.

Alleged victims who attended the Catholic Fort Augustus Abbey school told a BBC Scotland investigation that they were molested and beaten by monks over a period of three decades from the 1950s.

It has also been claimed that abuse was carried out at Carlekemp, its feeder school in East Lothian. Both schools are now closed.

Five men said on the Sins Of Our Fathers documentary, screened last Monday, that they were raped or sexually abused by Father Aidan Duggan, an Australian monk who taught at Carlekemp and Fort Augustus between 1953 and 1974.

Duggan died in 2004 but some abuse claims relate to men who are still alive.

A retired Sydney priest is being investigated by police over the abuse allegations.

Hugh Gilbert, the Bishop of Aberdeen, said mass at Fort Augustus church on Sunday and address the issue in his homily.

"It is a most bitter, shaming and distressing thing that in this former Abbey School a small number of baptised, consecrated and ordained Christian men physically or sexually abused those in their care," he said.

"I know that Abbot Richard Yeo has offered an apology to those who have suffered such abuse and I join him in that.

"We are anxious that there be a thorough police investigation into all this. And, that all that can be done should be done for the victims. All of us must surely pray for those who have suffered."

Scotland on Sunday also reported that the Church is planning to publish annual audits dealing with abuse allegations against Scottish clergy.