Bishop Wasn't Adequately Trained to Deal with Abuse

By Dan Cox
ABC News
September 24, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-24/barrister-sums-up-abuse-inquiry-case/4976652

Detective inspector Peter Fox's barrister will continue summing up his case this morning.

The New South Wales inquiry into child sexual abuse has heard the former bishop of the Hunter Valley's Catholic Church was not adequately trained to deal with paedophile priests.

The special commission is investigating senior policeman Peter Fox's claims police and the church covered up abuse by two priests, James Fletcher and Denis McAlinden.

In summing up today, his barrister Mark Cohen told the inquiry paedophile priest Denis McAlinden was moved from diocese to diocese "in the interest of avoiding scandal".

Simon Harben, representing the former Maitland-Newcastle bishop Michael Malone, urged the commissioner on several occasions not to make any adverse findings against his client.

He said bishop Malone "hadn't received adequate training to respond" to abuse allegations, and he "didn't comprehend tipping off (paedophile priest James Fletcher) could have hindered a police investigation".

Mr Harben told the commission his client "never resiled from his responsibility to continue with McAlinden's laicisation" from ministry.

He said "enormous endeavour" was shown by bishop Malone to deal with McAlinden.

Mr Harben said there was "no need" for the former bishop to read McAlinden's file, and "everything he did was proper" because he adhered to the wishes of the priest's victims.

Meanwhile, a man who was sexually abused by James Fletcher honoured his parents for teaching him how to survive beyond the abuse.

Peter Gogarty has been given leave to appear before the commission and today summed up his case.

He told the commission some abuse victims "don't have the strength to make the journey" and they commit suicide.

Mr Gogarty's father broke down in the public gallery when he thanked his parents for giving him the "skills to survive child sexual abuse and to thrive after it".

He said their faith had been "severely tested and finally broken" as they came to terms with his abuse and the failures of the church.

Mr Gogarty said abuse victims often ask, "Why was there so much secrecy when so many people knew?" and, "What would my life have been if I'd never met him?"