Bishop decries child abusers

By Barclay White
SheppartNews
February 09, 2017

http://www.sheppnews.com.au/2017/02/09/73065/bishop-decries-child-abusers

‘‘As the Bishop of the Diocese of Sandhurst, I have apologised to victims and survivors of sexual abuse on several occasions in the past. I wish to take this opportunity to do so again,’’ says Bishop Leslie Tomlinson.

Sandhurst Diocese’s Bishop has given his first public statement since the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse revealed that close to 15 per cent of its priests over a 60-year period were alleged abusers of children.

Bishop Leslie Tomlinson said having one priest abuse childer was ‘‘one too many’’.

‘‘As the Bishop of the Diocese of Sandhurst, I have apologised to victims and survivors of sexual abuse on several occasions in the past. I wish to take this opportunity to do so again,’’ he said.

‘‘As a diocese and community we will work together to ensure that this betrayal can never occur again.’’

He said during the 60-year period from 1950 to 2010 there were 27 claims of abuse, against 16 priests in the diocese.

‘‘The last report of sexual abuse of a minor by a priest in this diocese was 26 years ago in 1991,’’ he said.

He said the diocese had made changes to ensure abuse would never happen again.

‘‘We have recently recruited a child safety officer to work across the diocese to ensure that all proper processes for protection of children are in place and maintained,’’ he said.

‘‘We commit to working with the findings of the Royal Commission to ensure a positive future for our young people and those entrusted to our care.’’