AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald
September 19, 2014
Rick Feneley
The new archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, has used his first news conference to express his shame and sorrow for child abuse by the clergy and the church’s abandonment of its victims.
To the survivors of abuse and to the church’s youth, Archbishop Fisher said: “To both of them I say, no excuses, no cover-ups. I am ashamed and I’m sorry for where we’ve failed you in the past. The church can do better and I’m determined to play my part as a leader in Sydney.”
Archbishop Fisher said he hoped the Catholic church would emerge as a “purified and humbler church”.
At the news conference in Parramatta, where he has led the Diocese since 2010, he said: “It’s been harrowing to listen to the stories of the survivors of abuse as I have done here as Bishop of Parramatta.”
On his first day in the job, Archbishop Fisher said he hoped to meet Muslim leaders on Friday afternoon to discuss the anti-terrorism raids in Sydney. He said faith leaders had to play a role in ensuring calm and harmony.
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