Questions follow priest’s evidence, by Joanne Mccarthy, Newcastle Herald (March 9, 2014)

MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE Catholic Diocese is in damage control after calls for the removal of a priest following his evidence to the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry.

The diocese will meet with Catholic school principals and representatives in the Taree area in the next week after complaints about Taree priest Des Harrigan’s evidence to the inquiry and alleged behaviour at the parish.

The priest told the inquiry he bought pornography in London in 2000 depicting adult males, which he left at Lochinvar presbytery after moving to Raymond Terrace.

The two pornographic magazines were later destroyed by an unidentified person.

Father Harrigan said it was ‘‘pure stupidity’’ on his part to leave the magazines at Lochinvar but he denied claiming ownership of the material to protect fellow priest James Fletcher, who had been charged with offences against male teenagers.

As executor to Fletcher’s estate, Father Harrigan controversially appealed to the High Court against Fletcher’s conviction after the priest died in jail in 2006.

Father Harrigan told the inquiry he felt ‘‘totally ashamed ... and very guilty about’’ the pornographic magazines because ‘‘it is below the standards that I would expect of myself and I think other people can expect of me’’, and contrary to Catholic teaching about homosexuality.

The diocese denied imposing restrictions on the priest’s ministry following complaints from schools and parishioners, but said Father Harrigan ‘‘chose to refrain from entering schools and delivering the homily within the parish while evidence from the Special Commission of Inquiry was being released’’.

In a statement, the diocese said Father Harrigan held a current Working With Children Check issued by the Office of the Children’s Guardian.

The diocese did not comment on a question about alleged ‘‘angry outbursts’’ by the priest but confirmed there had been ‘‘a range of comments received on Father Harrigan’’ and it was working with the priest to ‘‘address feedback on an ongoing basis’’.

Parents who contacted the Newcastle Herald criticised Bishop Bill Wright for keeping the priest at Taree and said it was symptomatic of a Church that failed to understand the impact of priests’ behaviour on parishioners.

‘‘He may well have gone through some redemptive process of the Church but I question whether he is an appropriate role model for our children or, for that matter, us as parishioners,’’ said a parent of a Catholic primary school child.

‘‘I don’t know his state of mind or his well-being but the Church has put him back in the parish to say Mass and the whole thing has been very embarrassing for him.

‘‘My belief is the bishop shouldn’t have sent him back.

‘‘You’ve got to respect the priest and if they’re not holding the fort in that regard, then how am I supposed to sit in church and accept what he’s saying on the issue of morals?’’

Another parishioner said he believed the strong response from some parishioners was linked to the Church’s failures in the Taree area in the past.

‘‘The Church sent [paedophile priests] Vince Ryan, John Denham and Denis McAlinden to Taree when they caused trouble elsewhere,’’ the parishioner said. ‘‘People have said this is a really tough parish but you only have to look at what we’ve put up with in the past to see why.’’