AUSTRALIA
The Age
Konrad Marshall
Senior writer
A school principal who blew the whistle on abusive priest Peter Searson – and was then exiled from the Catholic education system – says he feels “vindicated” by the testimony of Cardinal George Pell this week.
Graeme Sleeman was principal at the Doveton Holy Family school when the notorious Searson arrived in 1984 and began abusing children. It was a school where children lived in fear of the unhinged priest: altar boys did not want to serve, and everyone feared the confessional, where Searson spent far too much time (and he liked children to kneel between his legs), Mr Sleeman resigned in 1986.
He had hoped to force the hand of the church and the Catholic Education Office to remove the paedophile priest. Instead Mr Sleeman lost his career, health and financial security, as the church preferred to keep the now disgraced Searson in Doveton, at one of the most disadvantaged parishes in Melbourne. Mr Sleeman never fully regained his career trajectory.
“I was more than shocked – I was totally disillusioned,” Sleeman said of the episode. “In many ways I had a naivety about the church. But boy oh boy, was my faith tested beyond belief.”
On Thursday, though, Mr Sleeman said he was pleased that his own role in trying to stop Searson was noted.
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