Archbishop Prowse hears child sexual abuse concerns

By Louise Thrower
Goulburn Post
April 4, 2017

http://www.goulburnpost.com.au/story/4575171/prowse-listens-to-abuse-concerns/

VITAL ROLE: Matt Casey is a former Goulburn detective and now director of the Archdiocese's Institute of Professional Standards and Safeguarding.

REFORMS: Archbishop Christopher Prowse plans to meet again with victims of child sexual abuse and those generally concerned about the issue. Photo by Matt Bedford

The Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra/Goulburn has paid out $1.82 million in compensation to victims of sexual abuse.

The figures, tendered to the recent Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, relate to the period 1950 to 2010.

The Archdiocese’s Institute for Professional Standards and Safeguarding director Matt Casey said 73 people made a claim of sexual abuse by over the 60 years. Forty-four of these were leveled against clergy and 28 against lay people.

Half of all the claims were made against two priests, Father Pat Cusack and Father Lloyd Reynolds. The former served in Canberra and Goulburn was the target of 23 claims, Mr Casey said. He died in 1977 and the church only became aware of the allegations in 1993.

Father Reynolds mainly served in Canberra. He died in 1983 and was the subject of seven claims of sexual abuse which allegedly occurred in the 1970s. 

Mr Casey pointed out that some people had alleged sexual abuse at the church’s hands but did not seek redress. He said the Institute was still receiving historical sexual abuse claims.

“Statistics out of the Royal Commission reveal the average time taken to report abuse is 33 years. We’ve settled claims that go back to 1946. Matters continue to come in and while for a while,” Mr Casey said. 

He was speaking following Archbishop of Canberra/Goulburn Christopher Prowse’s visit to Goulburn last Tuesday. He was on a listening tour of the Archdiocese, hearing from people directly and indirectly affected by child abuse.

Mr Casey said 15 to 18 people attended the session at Mary Queen of Apostles presbytery. They included those who had been touched by abuse and people generally concerned about revelations emerging from the Royal Commission.

“Saint Patrick’s College (and the conviction and charging of its Christian Brothers) got a mention and there was a deal of discussion about the impact on the community and on those people who were associated with the school and didn’t know what was going on,” Mr Casey said.

He described it as a “low-key” but at times “intense” meeting.

His background in restorative justice has proven helpful in listening sessions about child sexual abuse within the Archdiocese.

The former Goulburn detective employs the model in his current role as director of the Archdiocese’s Institute for Professional Standards and Safeguarding. The body is charged with developing training, policy, healing of victims and compliance surrounding child protection and safeguarding across the church’s schools and agencies.

Mr Casey ran the listening session in Goulburn last Tuesday.

“The idea of the restorative model is that relationships and bonds are built and maintained by sharing emotions with one another. It turned into a pretty nice conversation where people were able to support one another,” he said.

Mr Casey said while he ran the meeting, the Archbishop listened intently, took part and answered questions. He also outlined steps he was taking later in the year to continue the conversation. Archbishop Prowse is extending an invitation to anyone affected either directly or indirectly by child sexual abuse within the Archdiocese to meet with him.

“He wants to hear those voices and we are happy to arrange any private meetings,” Mr Casey said.

The tour has included sessions at Temora, Tumut, Gundagai  Bega and Narooma.

Archbishop Prowse implemented the Institute to ensure necessary structures were in place to address claims and prevent further abuse. It includes a compensation formula based on “fair and reasonable” grounds, into which clergy have no input. The scheme’s insurance company also pays complainants’ legal fees to ensure they are not dissuaded from bringing forward claims.

Mr Casey said in this way the approach had changed significantly. He recalled that when he first joined the Police Force, judges warned juries that complainants “were likely to tell lies.” 

He told The Post that attendants at the meeting were “shocked and appalled” by the scale of abuse at the former Saint Patrick’s College.

“It was a significant institution in the Archdiocese. A lot of boys went there and many Christian Brothers passed through it, yet these terrible things happened,” Mr Casey said.

“...People have said during these sessions that their faith has been affected by abuse within the church. (These acts) are the antithesis of why the church was established. The Archbishop has found that a difficult thing to hear.” 

Anyone within the Archdiocese affected by church sexual abuse can contact Mr Casey on 0411 09 6173.