Sydney Cardinals Knew of Priest's Issues

Daily Mail
May 28, 2015

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/aap/article-3099669/Abuser-priests-testify-second-day.html

Two Sydney archbishops knew of pedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale's "sexual problems" and that he should be kept away from children, an inquiry has heard.

The child sex abuse royal commission has also heard allegations raised during Ridsdale's last court case that a victim believed another priest walked in while Ridsdale was sexually assaulting her.

Ballarat Bishop Ronald Mulkearns also knew Ridsdale was committing crimes and abusing children, the commission heard.

Ridsdale was sent out of Victoria, effectively to a desk job in Sydney, to get him away from parishes and access to children, senior counsel assisting the commission Gail Furness SC said on Thursday.

Documents before the commission show Bishop Mulkearns discussed with the new Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal Edward Clancy the conditions of Ridsdale's transfer to Sydney, as agreed under his predecessor Cardinal Sir James Freeman.

The conditions were that Ridsdale worked at the Catholic Enquiry Centre, had no contact with children and continued with counselling.

"If it was, I can't remember it," Ridsdale said of the no contact with children condition.

But Ridsdale abused children while he was in Sydney.

At a bishops' conference in 1983, Bishop Mulkearns took Cardinal Clancy aside and told him Ridsdale was receiving counselling for "certain sexual problems" and had come to Sydney to get away from problems in Victoria.

Cardinal Clancy told a Catholic Church Insurance investigator in 1993 that at the time, he had no real idea of pedophilia or its impact upon children.

Ridsdale said he did not think he was ever told Bishop Mulkearns had spoken to Cardinal Clancy about him being in Sydney.

Ridsdale was removed from the Victorian parish of Mortlake, where he was a prolific offender, and sent to the Sydney centre in 1982.

The commission has heard Bishop Mulkearns told a 1982 meeting of his advisers, the College of Consultors, that it had become necessary to move Ridsdale.

Now-Cardinal George Pell was at that meeting but Ridsdale said he did not speak to him about it.

"No, I don't think so. I can't remember, but I wouldn't have thought that I'd have any reason to speak to any of the consultors," Ridsdale said.

Ridsdale said he did not tell then-Fr Pell that he was abusing children while they lived in the Ballarat East presbytery together for about a year in the early 1970s.

A judge last year said a girl believed another priest was present for a short time while Ridsdale was sexually assaulting her and must have been aware of the assault but did not intervene.

Ms Furness on Thursday asked Ridsdale who that priest was.

"I don't know because I've said I don't know who the other priests were there at the same time except George Pell," Ridsdale said.

"I have no idea of the priests who were there with me at Ballarat East."

Commission chair Justice Peter McClellan said it was incredible Ridsdale could not remember his discussions with Bishop Mulkearns about being removed from Mortlake.

"Yes, I can understand that, your honour," Ridsdale said.

"My answer is, I can only give you what I've got. I can only tell you what I remember."

Ridsdale agreed he would have been very concerned about losing his office as a priest every time he spoke to the bishop.

Ridsdale said both he and Bishop Mulkearns both knew he was engaging in criminal activity.

Asked if Bishop Mulkearns or anyone else in the church ever indicated they would tell the police what he was doing, Ridsdale said: "No, I don't think so."

Bishop Mulkearns, Monsignor Leo Fiscalini and vicar general Father Henry Nolan had all received complaints about Ridsdale's conduct in Mortlake, the commission has heard.