Mass Protest over Parish Priest Father John Walshe Spreads to Second School
By Timna Jacks
More than 40 parents pulled their children out of mass at a Melbourne Catholic school on Wednesday in protest over an allegedly abusive priest. Parents at St John Vianney's Primary School in Parkdale are calling for the resignation of parish priest Father John Walshe. ?Father Walshe, who defended Cardinal George Pell at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, has been accused of sexually abusing an 18-year-old seminarian in 1982.
Some parents took their children to other parishes instead - the St Patrick's School parish in Mentone and Our Lady of Assumption parish in Cheltenham. The parents' protest comes a week after about 20 parents at Mentone's St Patrick's School - which is in the same parish - withdrew their children from weekly mass.
Father Walshe was in his early 20s when the alleged abuse took place, and had been recently ordained. He denied the abuse and said the incident was consensual. It was revealed in December that the victim received $75,000 in compensation after the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne apologised and accepted that he had been sexually abused by Father Walshe. Angela Sdrinis, who runs a law firm that specialises in institutional abuse, is representing a committee of parents at the two schools. She said a large proportion of parents at both schools were "extremely unhappy" and wanted the priest removed. "In essence, they have lost confidence. That is the most appropriate way I can put it." Ms Sdrinis said there is no intention to mount legal action at this stage. One parent, who did not want to be named, said he and other parents have sent dozens of emails to the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne about their concerns, but have been "flatly ignored". "We're stuck ... we have nowhere to go, we don't know who we can turn to," he said. "We are not using our children as pawns, our children are our only priority and we feel we must stand up here ... Desperate times require desperate measures." Stephen Elder, the executive director of the Catholic Education Office, said he has met with concerned parents and the school board, and investigated the incident. "There is no evidence to suggest that student safety is at risk at St John Vianney's Primary School," Mr Elder said. "As the first educators of their children, we respect the right of parents to remove students from mass. "However, it is disappointing that some parents believe they also have the right to disrupt legitimate school activities by engaging in a media circus." The school's principal, Shane Regan, did not return calls from Fairfax Media. In a letter sent to parents last week, Mr Regan argued that the Parish Education Board – which includes parents and representatives from the parish and school – unanimously supported Father Walshe. "The recent public disclosure of an issue more than three decades old that had been investigated independently and dealt with by the church does not impact the board's continued confidence," the board said. "This should not be allowed to cause disruption to our children's education." Shane Shealy, director of media communications at the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, said the institution would not provide comment.
|
.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.