AUSTRALIA
The Courier
May 12, 2016
BALLARAT Catholic Diocese has confirmed a planned mass for Bishop Ronald Mulkearns will not go ahead.
The mass – which was to be held on Monday – was described as “an opportunity for priests and people from around the diocese to come together to offer mass for Bishop Mulkearns”.
Bishop Mulkearns presided over a notorious period of child sexual abuse by clergy which spanned decades was seen by many as the keep of secret. He died from cancer aged 85 last month. He was the first Ballarat bishop to receive a crypt burial and was fare-welled in a low-key funeral at Nazareth House.
The mass announcement caused outrage within the community. A petition to cancel the mass garnered close to 2000 signatures in a matter of days.
Clergy abuse survivor Stephen Woods was pleased the mass was cancelled but said the damage had already been done.
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