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"Cover-up Culture" Serves Church Poorly

By Bill Hoffman
Sunshine Coast Daily
July 29, 2016

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/cover-up-culture-serves-church-poorly/3069254/

Cardinal George Pell.

REQUIREMENTS for celibacy and the exclusion of women from the priesthood were areas the Catholic Church could consider as it grapples with issues of child sexual abuse.

Former Dean of the North Coast Parish of the Catholic Church, John Dobson, speaking in the wake of the latest allegations levelled again Cardinal George Pell, said psychologists dealing with offending priests have raised issue with the benefits of enforced celibacy.

Father Dobson said once people were set up as direct representatives of God it opened a lot of doors to odd places.

And he said only fools would argue women lacked the gifts and abilities to make them suitable for priesthood.

Father Dobson said problems in the church were more about institutional culture rather than individual evil.

It was, he said, a culture of cover-up and protection.

The ABC's 7.30 Report on Wednesday night interviewed men who claimed to have been sexually abused in their youth by Cardinal Pell.

The Victorian Police has denied it was the source of the information aired by the program but has confirmed an investigation of the Cardinal was now with the Office of Public Prosecution.

Victorian Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton rejected claims by Cardinal Pell that it had provided the ABC with information for the program.

He said previous similar complaints by the Cardinal had been investigated and dismissed by the Independent Broad Based Anti-Corruption Commission.

In a statement released by his office in the Vatican following the ABC report Cardinal Pell refuted allegations he sexually abused boys, saying the claims had yet to be tested in court.

"The ABC has no licence to destroy the reputation of innocent people and Cardinal Pell, like all those who have allegations against them that have not been tested by the Courts, is entitled to the presumption of innocence - not immediate condemnation. He is entitled to a fair go,” the statement said.

"While the Cardinal in no way wishes to cause any harm to those making allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse against him, the simple fact is that they are wrong”.

Cardinal Pell said he bore no ill will and had no desire to cause the source of the allegations harm.

"But what they say about me is not true,” Cardinal Pell said.

The statement said the Cardinal was calling for an investigation to assess whether "any actions of elements of the Victorian Police and the ABC program amount to a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice”.

Maroochydore Catholic Church priest Father Joe Duffy said Cardinal Pell was a prominent church figure who operated as a "lightning rod” and upset a lot of people.

"Those concerns were partly because of the way he had responded or not responded to complaints of sexual abuse,” Father Duffy said.

"His enemies express their anger to more willing media outlets.”

Father Duffy said Australia was Cardinal Pell's country and, if he was one of his advisers, he'd be telling him to return.

He said the allegations raised questions of the Cardinal continuing in his significant role in the Vatican.

"The Pope will have to address that,” Father Duffy said.

He said when the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse had first started he held parish meetings to discuss the issues.

"I guess this is a serious issue the faithful would want to pretend was not the case or that the church was under attack,” Father Duffy said.

"I welcome the Royal Commission's attempts to discover the truth. It's not easy but we are fortunate to live in a country where questions can be openly asked.

"At the end of the day the issue of child abuse are prevalent in other situations.

"The high level of marriage breakdown leads to both sexual and emotional abuse. The Royal Commission findings will be a mirror of society. What holds for religious institutions will read also for domestic situations.”

 

 

 

 

 




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