The Church Punished US

The New Age
September 17, 2013

http://www.thenewage.co.za/107386-1007-53-The_church_punished_us

The father of a 15 year old boy who was allegedly abused by Fr Georg Kerkhoff during a St Bonifatius Catholic Church retreat at Haartebesport in the North West, claims that the church had punished his son and other victims for alerting the authorities of their abuse

Itumeleng Mafisa and Dudu Dube

The father of a 15 year old boy who was allegedly abused by Fr Georg Kerkhoff during a St Bonifatius Catholic Church retreat at Haartebesport in the North West, claims that the church had punished his son and other victims for alerting the authorities of their abuse.

The father who cannot be identified to protect his son, said the youngster was so traumatised that he eventually moved to Germany while some of the other four alleged victims moved to other parts of Europe.

And instead of support the church accused his son and Kerkhoff's four other alleged victims of making up stories.

The father also claimed that the five families were isolated by the Church and made to feel like trouble makers until eventually they all left the church.

"There was no Christian act to see what the boys needed - the feeling I got was don't upset us,' he said.

The father welcomed the arrest of Kerhoff who is already facing charges for the Hartebesstpoort incident, following The New Age reports on the priest's arrest by Interpol this week.

He recalled how he had addressed a church meeting in 2010 two yaers after the alleged abuse, declaring that he believed the boys :"Those stories were strong enough to make a legal case."

"What I find so sad and disappointing is that when the parents needed support, assistance and guidance where did it come from? NOT THE CHURCH!! It is surprising that this came from the Police with the support of the Teddy Bear Clinic who were wonderful. Not a word from anyone here or from the church! Not a phone call to ask how the boys were! No contact to ask how they were coping! Not a question, do you need any help! Not a word," the father said in a letter that he read out at the meeting.

Interpol wants Kerkhoff to be estradicted to Germany to face 36 charges of sexual offences against children in that country but the South African boy's father wants to see Kerkhoff's current trial to be over before extradition so that there is justice for the local victims.

A spokesperson for the South African Catholic Bishops conference, William Slattery, said the church was willing to help Kerkhoffs victims, but he emphasized that the church was guided by procedures it had to follow.

He said the church would await the court's verdict before making any further moves.