Abuse Survivors Call for Senior Hunter Priests Criticised by Inquiry to Resign

ABC News
June 3, 2014

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-04/abuse-survivors-call-for-senior-hunter-priests-criticised-by-in/5498742

Hunter Valley clergy abuse survivors say the local Diocese will 'continue to bleed' unless tougher action is taken against two senior priests criticised by a Special Commission of Inquiry.

Monsignor Allan Hart and Father William Burston have been stood down from advisory roles in the wake of the Commission's findings.

But the two priests are still performing their parish roles.

The report into cover-ups was scathing of the church's handling of the now dead paedophile priests Denis McAlinden and James Fletcher.

Monsignor Hart and Father Burston was asked to say what they knew.

The Commission described their evidence as unimpressive.

Bob O'Toole from the Clergy Abuse Network is concerned about cover ups and says the response from the Church is not good enough.

"It's time for action, it's not time for words," he said.

"I don't believe just standing aside from committees and things is adequate."

Mr O'Toole says both priests should retire or resign.

"For Father Hart and Father Burston to be returned to their parishes is not the way to do things.

"These people have been found by a Commission of Inquiry to be less than helpful or untruthful or having terminal amnesia and yet they're in charge of a parish which defies belief really."

Father Burston has declined to comment, while Monsignor Hart has not responded to the ABC's request for comment.

Bishop Wright heads to Rome

Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Bishop Bill Wright says all complaints have ben forwarded to Rome, meaning the Pope should be aware of what has gone on.

"And I can only imagine that from the sacred congregation and now through the extra commission that the Pope has established that he is in broad terms aware," he said.

"Though whether he is intensely focussed on Maitland-Newcastle as I am, I suspect not."

Bishop Wright will be in Rome in the coming weeks.

His predecessor, former Maitland-Newcastle Bishop Michael Malone was also criticised by the Cunneen report.

He has issued a statement saying while he is not beyond criticism he stands by his evidence given to the Special Commission of Inquiry.

Bishop Malone adds that the report sheds light on a toxic period where, for some, secrecy and self protection took precedence over protecting the vulnerable.