Special Panel to Determine Action against Two Hunter Region Priests

ABC News
July 1, 2014

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-02/special-panel-to-determine-action-against-two-hunter-region-pri/5564916

PHOTO: Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Bishop Bill Wright. (ABC: Hannah Thompson )

The Catholic Church will establish a special review panel to determine if further action will be taken against two senior Hunter region priests, criticised by an inquiry into Church cover-ups of child abuse.

The Special Commission of Inquiry into child sexual abuse in the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese was scathing of the church's handling of now dead paedophile priests, Denis McAlinden and James Fletcher.

Commissioner, Margaret Cunneen described evidence given by senior Hunter priests Monsignor Allan Hart and Father William Burston as unimpressive.

Mons Hart was considered for referral to the DPP for criminal charges, but it was found there was insufficient evidence warranting prosecution for failing to report offending by McAlinden to police.

Fr Burston was not considered for criminal charges.

Both have since been stood down from advisory roles, but the Church has come under fire from abuse survivors and the former Premier Barry O'Farrell for not going further.

Bishop Bill Wright says he will set up an independent review panel to advise him, which will include members from within the diocese as well as non-Catholics.

He says it will be a complex process, but until it is complete, both men will continue in their parish ministry roles.

The Bishop says since the report was handed down he has held a series of open forums across the Hunter region and many have questioned what is happening to the priests and whether 'it's business as usual.'

He says some within the Church believe the men have dedicated most of their lives to the service of the Catholic diocese and that their conduct at the commission is insufficient cause to make them resign.

Bishop Wright is urging patience and understanding as he works through the process.

Victims' advocate questions panel

The diocese is being urged to include victims' advocates on the independent review panel.

Pat Feenan, whose son Daniel was a victim of paedophile priest, Father James Fletcher, says she is disappointed the Bishop has made no mention of getting victims' input on the review panel.

"It says that there'll be a gender balance and will include non-Catholics," she said.

"But to me it just appears that once again the Church is making decisions that affect victims.

"It's just another example of the power, and it was the power that caused the problem in the first place."

Ms Feenan says she believes both priests should be removed from ministry, but acknowledges it is not a simple decision for the diocese.

"Yes, I think they should be, but I have reservations because they do a job.

"I wouldn't want the other priests who have done the right thing always, to have their workload increased.

"I don't know whether that's the answer but I think that it would show that they are doing something about the problem."