Anglican Priest Accuses Church of Failing to Act after Her Son Was Abused

By Peter Lloyd
ABC
August 5, 2016

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2016/s4514195.htm

This story from the Child Abuse Royal Commission contains details you may find disturbing.

An Anglican priest has accused the church and the police of failing to act, after her son was sexually abused by a man in the Diocese of Newcastle in New South Wales.

Today's hearing was told that the boy disclosed the abuse to the police in 2002, but it took three years before the man was put before the courts.

Both the mother and the son gave evidence that, throughout the ordeal, the church supported the perpetrator and avoided taking responsibility.

Thomas Oriti reports.

THOMAS ORITI: It began as a friendship between a 12-year-old boy and Ian Barrack, a 28-year-old theology student.

They lived a short distance from each other in 1997 and the boy, who we can't name, went to Barrack's house to use the internet.

CKU: Ian befriended me more and he became touchy with me. It started with a pat on the back; then a rub on the shoulder. And it progressed to massages when I stayed over at his house.

THOMAS ORITI: Ian Barrack was studying at St John's Theological College in Morpeth, north of Newcastle.

He had sex with the boy, just after his 14th birthday.

CKU: Ian had once asked before if he could have sex with me, and I said no. When he asked again, I still did not want to, but I knew he would keep asking until I let him.

THOMAS ORITI: The victim is now 32 years old. And during today's evidence, he said, he found child pornography on his abuser's computer. Barrack called it his "secret stash".

When he moved to boarding school, he said Barrack kept trying to contact him.

And in 2002, he disclosed the abuse: first to his girlfriend and then his mother, who is an Anglican priest.

She also gave evidence today:

CKU'S MOTHER: I have felt that the church has never acted fairly, compassionately or pastorally.

In 1996, the Newcastle Diocese published a document titled 'Principles and Procedures for Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Misconduct'. I believe the Diocese failed to meet its obligations under its policy.

THOMAS ORITI: Her son told the police in the same year and, she said, she was terrified as the case unfolded.

She added that the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle was more concerned about keeping the matter away from the public eye; and accused the clergy of supporting Ian Barrack, rather than her son, during the court proceedings.

But her son pointed out that it took three years to even reach that point:

CKU: I was upset that I did not receive any contact from the police. I started getting paranoid; thinking someone in the church had influence over the police; and my complaint was just thrown away.

THOMAS ORITI: The family agreed to drop some charges in exchange for a guilty plea.

And finally, in September 2006, Ian Barrack was sentenced to two years in jail for having sexual intercourse with a child. The non-parole period was 12 months.

His victim was eventually awarded about $60,000 in compensation and he received a written apology from the Bishop of Newcastle.

CKU: I felt like the Anglican Church fought very hard to avoid responsibility and deny their duty of care. An apology from the church was an acknowledgement that they were in the wrong, and I was happy to receive it.

THOMAS ORITI: Ian Barrack is just one of at least nine men being investigated at this public hearing, some of whom were affiliated with the Morpeth College, which had the nickname 'Satan's Playground'. It closed its doors in 2007.

Former members of the clergy have testified that they had no idea what was happening there at the time.

But the victim's mother described the college as a horrible place to live and, after the allegations were made against Ian Barrack, she said she was bullied.

The hearing continues next week.

PETER LLOYD: Thomas Oriti reporting.