Catholic Bishop Deliberately Ignored Sexual Abuse Allegations

ABC News
July 13, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-13/catholic-bishop-deliberately-ignored-sexual-abuse/4818350?section=nsw

[with audio]

The revelation that one of the nation's most senior priests deliberately ignored allegations of sexual abuse has been greeted with horror by victims groups. The startling admission came from the former head of the NSW Maitland-Newcastle diocese, retired Bishop Michael Malone. He's giving evidence at the special commission of inquiry into the alleged cover-up of child sexual abuse in the diocese by priests.. and members of the state's police force.

SIMON SANTOW: The revelation that one of the nation's most senior priests deliberately ignored allegations of sexual abuse has been greeted with horror by victims groups.

The startling admission came from the former head of the Maitland-Newcastle diocese in New South Wales, retired Bishop Michael Malone.

He's giving evidence at the Special Commission of Inquiry into the alleged cover-up of child sexual abuse in the diocese by priests as well as by members of the state's police force.

Eliza Harvey reports.

ELIZA HARVEY: The New South Wales inquiry is looking at whether the Church covered up the crimes of two paedophiles, Catholic priests Dennis McAlinden and James Fletcher, who served in the Newcastle-Maitland diocese.

It was commissioned after whistleblower Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox claimed that the Church - and New South Wales Police - tried to hinder the investigation into child abuse committed by the men.

Julia Lonergan SC is the counsel assisting the inquiry.

JULIA LONERGAN: This term of reference requires us to examine whether, and the extent to which, officials of the Catholic Church facilitated, assisted, or cooperated with police investigations of relevant matters, including whether any investigation has been hindered or obstructed by - amongst other things - the failure to report alleged criminal offences, the discouraging of witnesses to come forward, the alerting of alleged offenders to possible police actions, or the destruction of evidence.

ELIZA HARVEY: Bishop Michael Malone was in charge of the diocese for 16 years.

He said he was out of his depth in matters of child protection and that he turned a blind eye to decades of complaints against Father McAlinden because "the whole area of sexual abuse is so distasteful that I would have found it unpalatable."

Victims' supporter Nicky Davis sat through Bishop Malone's testimony.

NICKY DAVIS: I think Bishop Malone was genuinely sorry that this had happened, but I really don't think he gave very much or any consideration to the victims.

The most telling comment of all was the fact that he said that he didn't look in the files because to do so was distasteful, and sitting there in the room while he's saying that, I felt like shouting at him, "you try being on the receiving end of it."

ELIZA HARVEY: Bishop Malone also revealed that under Canon law, bishops keep a secret archive on priests, and each year historical documents relating to criminal cases concerning moral matters are supposed to be destroyed.

But Bishop Malone didn't destroy documents, saying "perhaps I should have. I might not have been in this room if I had destroyed them."

Nicky Davis wasn't impressed by the bishop's performance.

NICKY DAVIS: Earlier on in his testimony he really wouldn't admit to anything, and every single answer he gave was so evasive that he couldn't be held to anything from the answers that he gave.

ELIZA HARVEY: Bishop Malone made a public apology to victims in 2008.

The commission will hear evidence from another senior member of the Church, Father Brian Lucas, next week.

SIMON SANTOW: Eliza Harvey.