The Royal Commission Has Exposed a Catholic Church Culture in Desperate Need of Change

By Kathleen McPhillips
Newcastle Herald
September 12, 2016

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4158518/only-way-forward-is-to-address-the-horrors-of-past/

DURING his evidence to the royal commission Bishop Bill Wright made the observation that he felt concentrating on events of 30 years ago was not a useful exercise, and it is more important to understand what is happening now with regard to child abuse and protection. The Commissioner’s response was to state that the community had asked for a royal commission into organisations and that this be done in the public eye.

Understanding the history of abuse is vitally important to the health of the current community. Let me explain why.

First, it is vital to bring to public knowledge the traumatic events that occurred across Catholic parishes and schools in the last 60 or so years. The knowledge gleaned from the hearings provides the validation that the abuse occurred and had devastating effects. Those children are now adults and their suffering continues. Some took their lives. This needs to be investigated and acknowledged. Secondly, sexual abuse of a child is a crime and many perpetrators have not been bought to justice or have died. The crime of concealing abuse by failing to report it has also to be put to legal testing.

Thirdly, given that the Catholic Church represents 40 per cent of all cases before the royal commission it seems obvious to me there is a problem with a Church culture which has allowed such high levels of abuse to continue. Incredibly, very little research has been undertaken into the culture of clericalism by the Catholic Church. Most of the religious leaders seemed at a loss to understand why it happened. Brother Peter Carroll, the Provincial of the Marist Brothers, stated that the order was thinking about undertaking research into why over 150 brothers have been identified as sexual abusers. Let’s hope this happens.

Fourthly, it is important we understand there are two narratives in the histories of child abuse. The first comes from survivors and makes clear that despite the fact many families were devout and held priests, brothers and nuns with high authority, children and parents did speak up. This contradicts the evidence from some church officials that complaints were rarely made.

Finally, if we do not bring this awful past to light, and examine it, come to terms with it, understand why it happened, grieve, redress the injustice, we will have learnt nothing. And we will continue to foster the personal and cultural traumas that infect community life. There are many people in our town who experienced abuse as a child in a Catholic school or parish and whose lives have been deeply affected. Survivors, families, children and friends continue to live with the consequences of ongoing trauma, which research shows is intergenerational. Until it is intercepted by effective therapeutic treatment, the effects of child abuse will continue to wreck havoc on the mental health of survivors and their families.

It is imperative current religious groups undertake research into why this happened, as well as resourcing for the healing of survivors. There are already some programs in place in Newcastle including the Healing and Support unit at Zimmerman House, the Clergy Abuse Network and the Survivors and Mates Support Network. Understanding how this happened is essential to the health of our community, and to the creation of new Church structures which are transparent, inclusive, accountable and respectful of women and children. The Church needs to show it is serious about cultural change – this is yet to be effectively demonstrated.