Marist Brothers Leader Alexis Turton 'Failed to Act' over Alleged Abuse

By Dan Box
The Australian
December 17, 2013

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/in-depth/marist-brothers-leader-alexis-turton-failed-to-act-over-alleged-abuse/story-fngburq5-1226784962700



THE leader of a Catholic religious order failed to pass on allegations that one of his colleagues had sexually abused children to either the police or to the school where he knew the brother was teaching.

The former Sydney provincial of the Marist Brothers, Alexis Turton, told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that he chose not to take action, despite the cleric having personally admitted to his crimes.

Documents tendered to the commission show Brother Turton was aware of several allegations made against the second cleric, Raymond Foster, during the 1990s, including that "he enjoyed watching people abuse themselves and masturbate."

These described alleged abuse committed when Foster was teaching at a school in far-north Queensland during the 1950s, the commission heard.

Brother Turton said he spoke to Foster and "I assume that I would have had an assurance from him that what was referred to 30 years ago was not an issue now."

As a result, he told the commission, Brother Turton did not pass the warnings on to the Marist Brothers' school in Sydney where Foster was teaching at the time.

"At that time I didn't consider it was necessary ... I am quite sure I would have taken action today," he said.

Foster was later charged with child abuse and committed suicide before being brought to trial.