Abuse Inquiry Hears Allegations of Cover Ups

By Peta Carlyon
7 News
January 23, 2013

au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/15930580/abuse-inquiry-hears-allegations-of-cover-ups/

The Victorian Government is being urged to introduce swift legislation to force members of the Catholic Church to report child sexual abuse within its ranks.

Giving evidence at the Parliamentary Inquiry into abuse within the Church and other institutions today, former Catholic Priest Phil O'Donnell accused the Melbourne Archdiocese of repeatedly covering up abuse allegations since the 1950s.

Mr O'Donnell told the inquiry he lived and worked with two serious offenders, at parishes in Gladstone Park and Sunbury, in the 1970s and 80s.

He said he became aware young boys were being 'ruined', but when he and one of the families affected raised their case with the then Archbishop Frank Little, it was ignored.

Mr O'Donnell said the parents of one boy described the Archbishop's reaction as 'evasive and hostile'.

In outlining other examples to the inquiry, Mr O'Donnell said it was clear the offenders themselves had 'enormous personal problems', and although they were to blame, the real fault lay with the Melbourne Archdiocese, which he said 'had the knowledge, but failed to act'.

Mr O'Donnell was legally protected under Parliamentary privilege while giving evidence, but told the inquiry he was unable to speak out publicly on any detail of his experiences for fear of being sued.

He accused the Church of employing a legal strategy of intimidation, avoidance and denial, while hiring public relations experts to promote itself in a favourable light.

Mr O'Donnell wants an end to Catholic Priests holding the role of employers and managers at Catholic schools to prevent conflicts of interest in investigating allegations.

"I really do believe the vast majority of church-going Catholics are just horrified by this, they are overwhelmed by it, and they want something done," Mr O'Donnell said.

"But there's a leadership problem. I believe the problem lies with a group of predatory clergy, who have sexually assaulted so many children over so many years.

"There are far more people unknown than victims known, countless thousands who have not shared their pain and abuse, and we need to encourage them to come forward."

Mr O'Donnell also called for the Victorian Government to introduce new laws to bring members of the Church to account.

It is a view shared by the Catholic advocacy group, Catholics for Renewal, who told the inquiry, that 'only the state can be responsible' for imposing mandatory reporting obligations on members.

The group said investigations of allegations of abuse within the Church must be conducted by police alone.

The President of Catholics for Renewal, Peter Johnstone, described the Church's practices as '200 years behind the times'.

"It's hard to believe that there'd be much hesitation on the part of government in demanding that, given the history of this matter, that except in the case of the Church," he said.

"And I think we must all recognise churches have a very special position in society. Sometimes, that can give churches very considerable influence, and governments can be hesitant to take the steps that are necessary."