Abuse Inquiry Raises Questions about Catholic Church Official's Role in the Healing Process

By Thomas Oriti
ABC News
January 22, 2014

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-22/abuse-inquiry-raises-questions-about-catholic-church-official2/5213012


An inquiry into child sexual abuse has been told it is appropriate for authorities within the Catholic Church to play a central role in the healing process for victims.

In December, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse examined the cases of four people who had participated in the Towards Healing process.

Towards Healing was established by the Catholic Church in the mid-1990s to respond to complaints of abuse involving Church personnel.

AUDIO: Towards Healing under scrutiny at commission (PM)

Michael Salmon is the New South Wales and ACT Director of the Professional Standards Office within the Catholic Church and is now giving evidence in Sydney.

His long-awaited appearance comes after a victim accused the Catholic Church of deceiving him in the lead-up to his Towards Healing facilitation session.

A man known as DK says he was abused by three Marist Brothers at St Augustine's College college in Cairns between 1976 and 1981.

When his session to discuss compensation was organised, Michael Salmon was appointed as the mediator.

It seems to me that if the purpose of the facilitator is to get the best outcome for the person who has suffered, that a lack of identity with the Church would be fundamental to a perception of a fair process

Chair of the Royal Commission, Justice Peter McClellan

DK told the hearing that Church authorities told him Mr Salmon was "independent".

The victim says he later saw Mr Salmon on the television defending the Catholic Church.

DK told the hearing the failure to disclose Michael Salmon's position as Director of the NSW Professional Standards Office within the Church made him feel like he was being lied to.

Mr Salmon has today told the inquiry he does not think the person co-ordinating a compensation hearing needs to be impartial.

"The role of the facilitator is one where the facilitator can be very proactive, and almost a player in the process," he said.

"There is a blurring around the issues of neutrality and impartiality that one would expect to see in place in a more classic mediation.

"It is about getting the best result that one can get for the victim."

The Chair of the Royal Commission, Justice Peter McClellan, expressed his concern to Mr Salmon.

"It seems to me that if the purpose of the facilitator is to get the best outcome for the person who has suffered, that a lack of identity with the Church would be fundamental to a perception of a fair process," he said.

Counsel Assisting the Commission, Gail Furness SC, also questioned Michael Salmon about the decision to appoint Church employees.

"Why didn't you, back then, know the importance of properly conveying to a person attending Towards Healing your employment, and doing so in writing before agreeing to engage as the facilitator?" she said.

Michael Salmon responded that he made the decisions in "good faith".

DK denies being told about Mr Salmon in a phone call a month before the session.

Mr Salmon has told today's hearing he specifically recalls a discussion with DK, in which he made it clear he worked for the Church.

"I have already conceded that I failed to communicate in writing with DK," he said.

DK was paid $88,000 in compensation.

The inquiry continues.