Bishop's Advisor 'Contained' Abuse Allegations

By Dan Cox
ABC News
July 17, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-17/bishop27s-22right-hand-man22-to-front-sexual-abuse-inquiry/4824650

Senior members of the Hunter Valley's Catholic Church are today expected to front the Special Commission of Inquiry.

An advisor to the former bishop of the Catholic Church in the New South Wales Hunter Valley says he tried to contain child sexual abuse allegations against a priest so he did not hinder the police investigation.

Father James Saunders was the former bishop Michael Malone's vicar general from 2001.

He has given evidence at the special commission that is investigating claims the Maitland-Newcastle diocese covered-up child sexual abuse by Denis McAlinden and James Fletcher.

Fr Saunders shared the Belmont parish with McAlinden from about 1981 and said he was warned the priest "might be a difficult man".

He said he was aware of a rumour from the late 1980s regarding McAlinden's behaviour with children but cannot recall any details of the meetings he had with his fellow diocesan consultors regarding McAlinden.

Under cross examination Fr Saunders said he "couldn't say" whether there was a cultural disposition within the organisation to contain abuse allegations or not deal with the issues.

He said "there was trouble" when he and bishop Malone told Fletcher about the allegations against him.

So, when asked by the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations (CCER) about an alleged victim, he said he "wanted to disclose as little as possible" because he did not have much detail and did not want to trample across the police investigation.

Fr Saunders said he did not want to be exposed to more criticism regarding hindering police.

He said much of his memory regarding both priests over the last 30 years is very hazy, but he remembers driving to see Fletcher in 2002 and recalls bishop Malone telling him "if I was being investigated by police I would want to know".

Bishop Malone has previously told the commission he was not trying to hinder the investigation by forewarning Fletcher about the allegations, but concedes it could be viewed like that.

There is concern it gave Fletcher time to destroy evidence.

Fr Saunders said he does recall a local school principal saying "you've got to be careful with McAlinden around children".

He said that conversation is memorable because parish priests were always welcome in Catholic schools.