Calls for Catholic Church to Give Equal Justice to Overseas Abuse Victims

By Catherine Graue
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
March 14, 2018

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-15/calls-for-catholic-church-to-give-justice-to-overseas-victims/9550510

As debate continues about the Catholic Church's approach to the national redress scheme for Australian victims of child sexual abuse, the church is now being challenged to take responsibility and deal with crimes carried out by church officials overseas, in developing countries that include Papua New Guinea and the Philippines.

The call, from the chief executive officer of the Church's Truth, Justice and Healing Council, comes as police in PNG wrap up their investigations into allegations an Australian priest, still working with children, inappropriately touched students.

Francis Sullivan said it was clear that priests with child sex allegations made against them had been sent overseas, although he is not prepared to concede that those actions were deliberate.

But he said the church needed to treat overseas survivors exactly as they would those in Australia, and ensure they get justice.

"The relevant church authorities need to be able to demonstrate that they're taking responsibility for the actions in how they moved personnel, particularly when those personnel either had a history of abuse, or abused when they were overseas," he told Pacific Beat.

Four years ago media reports revealed how another priest, Father Roger Mount, had spent decades working in PNG after being accused of sexually abusing boys in Australia during the 1960s.

Allegations had also been previously raised in Australia against Denis McAlinden, who spent several years in PNG but died in 2005 without ever being convicted.

"In particular instances, where the perpetrator is known for having a history of abuse, then the diocese or religious order that the person comes from in Australia, who in effect has responsibility for them, even if it is overseas, they need to address this in the same way they would address if it the abuse occurred in Australia," Mr Sullivan said.

"Take full responsibility, ensure the victims are appropriately cared for and given justice."

PHOTO: Francis Sullivan says priests with child sex allegations made against them have been sent overseas. (Facebook: Truth Justice and Healing Council)

Mr Sullivan supports the suggestion of an audit of Catholic priests sent overseas, particularly after the royal commission established that, between 1950 and 2009, 7 per cent of priests have been accused of child sex crimes in Australia.

"That was the first time ever in the world the Catholic Church's books were opened and analysed by an independent inquiry," Mr Sullivan said.

"And painful though that might be, it's essential that it occurred.

"And the same needs to apply, with regard to potential exposure of perpetrators and their actions in overseas places."

Meanwhile, an Australian priest currently working in the PNG town of Alotau, is being investigated by local police, for allegedly touching female school students.

PHOTO: Wendy Stein took allegations from a group of local teachers to police. (Supplied)

The allegations were taken to police by Wendy Stein, an Australian who runs family planning services for women living in Alotau and remote villages in the region.

She said she went to police in September last year, after she was approached by a group of local teachers.

"They had brought their concerns to the bishop, signed by eight teachers which was a wonderful thing for them to do in their loco parentis status of looking after these children," Ms Stein said.

"They knew things were wrong, they're going to the priest's house at night, and they stood up and had a meeting with the bishop.

"I've got grandchildren in Catholic schools in Australia and I wouldn't like to think that someone knew about something going on with my family and did nothing."

Public prosecutor considering possible charges

The case was first brought by teachers to the Bishop of Alotau, Rolando Santos, in March though.

He said his initial judgement was there was nothing to substantiate the claims, and after an internal investigation the church's child protection officer agreed.

PHOTO: An Australian priest working in PNG has been investigated by police. (AAP: Ilya Gridneff, file photo)

But the complaints didn't subside, and Bishop Santos said he was happy to refer the case to the police.

"We are very concerned about this, we are not tolerating this," he said.

"We are not protecting our own people, our priests or what. If they are guilty they should go to jail.

"But if he is innocent then I think that he should be protected."

The local police commander, Inspector Andrew Weda, said investigations were now complete, after more than six months of collecting statements.

"Everything [is] completed. Our file [has been] completed [and given] to public prosecutor and by Friday, [the] public prosecutor will give the file back to us, advising us of the possible charges to lay on him and then we'll proceed," he said.

Ms Stein said that was good news, because she believes there is evidence to suggest that the Catholic Church has had a longstanding policy of dispatching priests with questionable records to developing countries like PNG.

"I think they're rewarded and sent to paedophile heaven. I think it's disgraceful," she said.