A STATEMENT BY WILLIAM WRIGHT ...

Roman Catholic Diocese of Maitland and Newcastle
February 16, 2015

http://www.mn.catholic.org.au/media/571560/bishop_bill_wright_public_statement_independent_advisory_panel.pdf

A STATEMENT BY WILLIAM WRIGHT, BISHOP OF MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE ON THE DIOCESE'S RESPONSE TO THE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, THE BISHOP'S INDEPENDENT ADVISORY PANEL, FR WILLIAM BURSTON AND MGR ALLAN HART

Introduction

I am finally in a position to report to the people of the diocese and to the public on theconclusions and advice of the Independent Advisory Panel. I established ‘the Panel’ to consider what action the diocese should take in regard to adverse findings made in the Cunneen Commission Report concerning Monsignor Allan Hart and Fr Bill Burston. I will also explain the actions I have taken in the light of the Panel's advice.

The Cunneen Commission

The Cunneen Commission was established in response to growing public concern arising from repeated media stories of conspiracies to cover-up historic crimes of child sexual abuse in the diocese, conspiracies either among diocesan personnel or police or both.

I welcomed the establishment by public authority of a Commission with sweeping powers to gather evidence and compel witnesses. I saw it as a great opportunity to establish the facts of what had actually happened. I indicated that I and the diocese would cooperate fully with the Commission.

As I said at the announcement of the Cunneen and Royal Commissions, in the context of an apology to victims,

It's healthy to have to face up to what you have done; to confess the wrong, to stiffen up your resolve that these things must not happen again. There can be no great change while we hide the truth, and especially when we choose to hide it from ourselves. That’s true for individuals, and it's true for institutions.

Public statement 'Royal Commission will be healing for the Church' 20 th November 2012

The Cunneen Commission published three of the four volumes of its Report on 30th May 2014.

Now, as then, I support and accept the Report's findings, for myself and on behalf of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.