AUSTRALIA
Canberra Times
Michael Gorey
The leader of nearly 160,000 Catholics in the Canberra region sees light among the darkness of child sexual abuse revelations and hopes to heal and console.
Archbishop Christopher Prowse, who recently appeared before the Royal Commission and last week faced calls to resign, likened himself to biblical figure Job in the ash heap and conceded he had needed emotional support to deal with the unfolding tragedy.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Canberra Times, Archbishop Prowse said he hoped the church in future would be known more for its good works than the shame of abuse.
“Communities are largely traumatised by it,” he said.
“I know many of my priests find it very, very painful. The vast majority of priests are heroic, dedicated and holy men.
“One paedophile priest is one too many, but there have been too many Judases in our midst and it’s really affected us all.”
Archbishop Prowse said it would be his lenten pilgrimage to engage with victims of abuse and their families.
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