AUSTRALIA
The Australian
Four paedophiles in same parish an accident of history, Christian Brothers tell parliamentary inquiry
A CATHOLIC order at the centre of Victoria’s child abuse inquiry says the existence of a cluster of paedophile priests in Ballarat at the same time was “an accident of history”.
At least four Christian Brothers at Ballarat’s St Alipius Parish School in the early 1970s were child sex offenders, as was parish priest Gerald Ridsdale.
But the order’s deputy province leader Brother Julian McDonald told the parliamentary inquiry there was nothing to suggest a cultural problem.
“I have no explanation for that … It’s certainly an accident of history. Was there a culture that encouraged that? I don’t believe there is evidence that there was.”
The inquiry heard six brothers had been jailed, four of whom remain in the order.
Brother McDonald said a further six, none of whom now had any contact with children, had been investigated by police without conviction.
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