Sex abuse victim’s mother relieved a senior figure in Catholic Church has been charged

By Andrew Dowdell
Australian
March 18, 2015

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sex-abuse-victims-mother-relieved-a-senior-figure-in-catholic-church-has-been-charged/story-e6frg6n6-1227268652078

Catholic Archbishop Philip Wilson. Photo by TOM HUNTLEY

PATRICIA Feenan lost her faith in the Catholic Church years ago, but is pinning her hopes in the legal system to determine if Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson conspired to hide child sex abuse.

Mrs Feenan — whose son, Daniel, exposed the crimes of paedophile priest Father James Fletcher — said a charge of concealing church sexual abuse against Archbishop Wilson was a major development.

“It was a relief to realise finally that a senior person could be charged. I have faith in the legal system, I always say the church let us down but the legal system and the police didn’t,” she said.

Fletcher died in prison in 2006 while serving a sentence for abusing Daniel Feenan in the early 1990s, however it is alleged the priest’s crimes dated back to at least the mid-1970s.

Archbishop Wilson has been charged with one count of concealing a serious indictable offence, relating to his then-housemate Fletcher’s abuse of another boy at the Maitland-Newcastle diocese in the 1970s.

Mrs Feenan said the criminal charge — the first of its kind in the world against a senior Catholic official — was a bittersweet experience for her family.

“It’s a matter for the courts now but we are all fairly emotional because once again this is in the media, we see footage of the paedophile priest who abused my son coming into court, it just opens old wounds,” she said.

“We are all reflecting on how life would’ve been different for my son Daniel and our family if that priest was stopped, Daniel’s life could’ve gone another way.”

Mrs Feenan said her son was struggling to comprehend the latest development in the saga.

“He was fairly upset yesterday,” she said.

“I do have that sense of pride, he’s an extraordinarily brave man and nobody had come forward about Fletcher before Daniel did.”

Archbishop Wilson, who will face Newcastle Court on April 30, has taken “some leave” but had not stood down from his post while the charges proceed through court.

Victims’ groups on Tuesday called for him to step aside, however Mrs Feenan said she was more concerned about the outcome of the criminal proceedings.

“I don’t have any view at all, I’m just too sad that this has happened.

“The church has a woeful record of dealing with paedophiles, and managing or removing them from ministry and it hasn’t been transparent and now it’s going to be ... this is where it should be played out because nobody is above the law.”

On Tuesday, the church advised the state’s 100 catholic schools of the charges within hours of public announcement.