AUSTRALIA
ABC News
A high profile promotion of a senior Catholic figure in Rome has outraged some Hunter Valley clergy abuse survivors still reeling from a diplomatic stoush involving the clergyman.
In May the United Nations Committee Against Torture criticised the Vatican’s representative in Australia Archbishop Paul Gallagher for claiming diplomatic immunity in refusing to hand over documents.
Those documents related to child sexual abuse in the Maitland/Newcastle Catholic Diocese committed by the now dead priests Dennis McAlinden and James Fletcher.
Archbishop Gallagher who is the former Papal Envoy to Australia has now been promoted to the third highest position in the Catholic Church.
Bob O’Toole from the Clergy Abuse Network says it is a disgrace.
“I’m appalled,” he said.
“You do the wrong thing by the people and perhaps the right thing in the eyes of the church and you get a promotion.
“It’s just totally wrong.”
Archbishop Gallagher was promoted as part of a reshuffle by Pope Francis.
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