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St John of God Healthcare and Catholic Church respond to Royal Commission findings

By Justine Doherty
Hawkesbury Gazette
February 14, 2017

http://www.hawkesburygazette.com.au/story/4463596/rebuilding-our-trust/

Commissioner Justice Peter McClellan listens to evidence in Sydney on February 6.

THE findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse have reached deep into the hearts of Catholics, revealing horrors that are difficult to face. The Gazette asks Hawkesbury’s Catholic institutions for their responses to the crisis. 

Last week the commission hearings revealed that between 1980 and 2015, 4444 people alleged they were abused as children in more than 1000 Catholic institutions, with 1880 perpetrators identified.

It was also revealed that 40 per cent of St John of God Brothers have been implicated in abuse claims. With two St John of God-branded hospitals in our district and several Catholic schools as well, the Gazette asked St John of God Healthcare and the Diocese of Parramatta to respond to the commission’s revelations.

A St John of God Health Care spokesperson told the Gazette “St John of God Health Care was established by the Sisters of St John of God who came to Australia from Ireland in 1895”. 

“They founded hospitals around Australia and in 1989 founded St John of God Health Care, bringing all their hospitals together in a single entity,” she said.

“St John of God Health Care took over services operated by the Brothers in 2007, well after the abuses occurred and had been dealt with, and invested heavily in expanding and growing the services. They are highly regarded in the communities where they operate.”

She said there have never been any allegations against St John of God Health Care or the Sisters of St John of God. While St John of God brothers were present at the psychiatric hospital in the past, the Gazette understands from a source it’s not thought any who were there have been implicated in the Royal Commission, and there are no longer any brothers in residence there now.

Regarding Hawkesbury’s Catholic schools and churches, the Gazette asked the Diocese of Parramatta five questions. 

1. In the Hawkesbury we have St Monica's Primary, Chisholm Primary and Bede Polding College. Will the diocese be communicating with parents about the Royal Commission's findings?

We already have communicated about the Royal Commission and will continue to do so. Letters and information packs have gone out to all Catholic schools and Catholic Churches in the Hawkesbury and the Diocese of Parramatta.

A letter from Bishop Vincent to all parents, staff and parishioners was part of an information pack that was distributed last week to all Catholic schools and Catholic Churches in the Hawkesbury and the Diocese of Parramatta. The package included information about what the Royal Commission is, the support services available to anyone affected by what has emerged and other related content.

2. I understand there were Brothers teaching at Bede Polding in the past, (a third of the 1880 perpetrators identified in the Royal Commission were Brothers) and priest Robert Flaherty who served at St Monica's at one point, was last year found guilty of paedophile activities. In light of these things, what guarantee can you give that children in Hawkesbury Catholic schools are safe?

The work of safeguarding and protecting minors and other vulnerable people is ongoing and of the highest priority. We have in place a number of initiatives aimed at ensuring children in Hawkesbury Catholic schools remain safe. This includes and is not limited to:

- The establishment of an Office for Safeguarding and Professional Standards to ensure that agencies (including education and services) in the Diocese of Parramatta are child-safe environments. 

- This includes having robust systems in place to keep children and other vulnerable people safe when they are involved in the activities of the Diocese. More information at www.safeguarding.org.au.

- Working with the authorities including NSW Police and the NSW Ombudsman.

- Pre-employment and regular screening of employees, clergy and all those in regular contact with children

- Ongoing training and development of staff and church personnel around child-protection issues

- Ongoing review and development of policies and procedures in child protection, complaint managements, risk assessment and codes of conduct

- Strict adherence to the regulations around mandatory reporting.

3. Regarding Hawkesbury's Catholic churches, have any clergy, brothers, sisters or laypeople from Catholic institutions in the Hawkesbury LGA been identified as part of the Royal Commission?

As far as we are aware, no church personnel in the Hawkesbury area has been referred to in public hearings in the Royal Commission.

4. Have priests in your parishes talked to their parishioners about the commission's findings and reports in the media? If so what are they saying?

These are a list of the things parishes have been doing.

- Bulletin notice about the Royal Commission, which is printed and given to parishioners.

- Bulletin also online on individual parish websites.

- During mass, prayers of the faithful are read for the victims of abuse.

- Priests are available for discussions after mass and at other times to speak about the Royal Commission.

5. What effect do you think the Royal Commission's findings will have on the Catholic Church's credibility?

There is little doubt the credibility of the Catholic Church has been adversely affected by the information flowing out of the Royal Commission process. The Catholic Church in the Diocese of Parramatta is committed to the ongoing review and development of its policies, systems and practices to ensure that child safety is given the highest priority.

Next week the Gazette speaks to a North Richmond parishioner about his faith and his service alongside St John of God Brothers.




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