Abuse Victim Says Towards Healing Process Was a Sham

The ABC News
December 18, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-18/abuse-victim-says-towards-healing-process-was-a/5165870?section=nsw



The Royal Commission into child sexual abuse has heard how a victim of sexual abuse felt scarred by the Catholic Church's pastoral and redress scheme known as Towards Healing.

MARK COLVIN: The Royal Commission into child sexual abuse has heard how a victim of sexual abuse felt enraged and scarred by the Catholic Church's Towards Healing scheme.

The victim known as "DK" has recounted the abuse he suffered at the hands of three Marist Brothers at St Augustine's in Cairns from 1976 to 1981.

The victim told the inquiry he believed senior Marist Brothers knew that he was being abused, condoned it and covered it up.

Emily Bourke reports.

EMILY BOURKE: The 49-year-old known as "DK" has detailed how three Marist Brothers abused him during his six years at Saint Augustine's College in Cairns.

One of his abusers was Brother Ross Murrin, who was convicted in 2008 and 2010 for child sex offences committed at schools in Sydney.

DK told the Royal Commission about how the abuse affected him as a child and as an adult.

DK: After the sexual abuse by Brother Murrin, I received a number of floggings and was treated differently by the Brothers. I remember being excluded from school events and feeling like they were trying to get me to leave the school.

I have difficulties trusting people and I am a very anxious person. I find that now I compensate by overeating. Since my first child was born in 2009 I have put on 40 kilograms. I have difficulty concentrating and have struggled to work effectively over the years.

EMILY BOURKE: DK came forward in late 2009 seeking redress and, a few months later, he took part in a Towards Healing mediation.

He's told the Royal Commission he wanted to confront senior Marist Brothers from the college who he says knew about the abuse and covered it up.

The inquiry was told that the mediation started with a lecture about the good works of the Catholic Church and that sexual abuse was "rare" in the Catholic Church.

Through Towards Healing, DK was paid $88,000 and received an apology, but he remains angry at how process unfolded.

DK: And by three o'clock that afternoon, I just felt that the same angry, cruel men had done the same thing to me 25 years later. It's the same abuse.

I don't call it Towards Healing, I call it Towards Hurting. I feel that the whole Towards Healing process was a sham. I feel a lot of rage in relation to Towards Healing. It is one the biggest scars in my life.

EMILY BOURKE: DK said he was misled about the independence of the mediator in his case, Michael Salmon, who's employed by the Church as the director of the New South Wales Professional Standards office.

Brother Alexis Turton managed DK's complaint and he was questioned by counsel assisting Angus Stewart about the appointment of Michael Salmon.

ANGUS STEWART: You are aware, of course, that in the Towards Healing protocol it is provided that the director of Professional Standards should not even participate in the facilitation?

ALEXIS TURTON: I am aware of that, yes.

ANGUS STEWART: So you accept that, under the protocol Mr Salmon, because he was the director of Professional Standards for the state, should not have been the mediator?

ALEXIS TURTON: I did not turn my mind to that fact at that time, so that was an oversight on my part.

ANGUS STEWART: And would you accept then that, as fair and as competent and as professional as a facilitator might be, he might not be seen to be impartial if he is employed by the Church?

ALEXIS TURTON: Looking back, I would have recommended a facilitator totally unconnected with the Church.

EMILY BOURKE: DK said he's read more than 1000 documents in preparing for the Royal Commission, and he's found evidence that the Marist Brothers were preoccupied with potential legal liability and showed a complete lack of concern for his wellbeing.

He says he feels betrayed by the Marist Brothers who abused him and those who managed his case.

DK: After 37 years, the weight of the anger, hurt and pain is now just too much to carry. Enough is enough. I need to let it all go.

After all these years, I have come to the conclusion that, in order for me to put this all behind me and move forward with my life, I need the following: firstly, I need to forgive the Marist Brothers; and secondly, I need the Marist Brothers to let me forgive them.

Forgiveness is a two-way street. It requires an acknowledgement of wrongdoing, a sincere apology and a heartfelt request for forgiveness. That request needs to come with honesty, sincerity, respect and good faith.

EMILY BOURKE: DK has told the inquiry that his healing has begun.

DK: The healing that I have experienced started four weeks ago, when I was given a whole stack of documents which I know believe was the truth. And that truth was searing and hurtful and very hard to read and to understand it and process. But coming out of that, I believe now I know the whole truth.

EMILY BOURKE: Brother Ross Murrin is still in jail. DK says he has forgiven him.

MARK COLVIN: Emily Bourke.