NEWCASTLE (AUSTRALIA)
MN News
January 3, 2018
By Joanne Isaac
In September the launch event for The Atonement: Lina’s Project took place at Newcastle City Hall. It was arguably the first time a Catholic diocese had facilitated a project conceived by a victim of child sexual abuse.
Lina, who was abused by a member of clergy in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, devised The Atonement: Lina’s Project as a way of rebuilding her own trust in “my Church” and bringing some healing to the “average, ordinary human beings” whose skin had been “burnt, scorched and blistered” by the actions and inactions of the church.
Lina hoped that by admitting its criminal history and cover-ups at the launch event and then projecting images onto the façade of Sacred Heart Cathedral, the diocese might take a step towards atonement with the community.
The audio-visual presentation has been viewed over 1,600 times, so clearly, people are engaging with Lina’s message. You can watch it on the Lina’s Project website, www.linasproject.com.au. The projection onto the cathedral also saw a significant number of people watching each evening.
Around 500 people attended on Friday 15 September. Victims, survivors, families and friends, clergy, religious, principals, teachers, diocesan staff and many others sat together. The mood was, as Pat Feenan described, “quiet, respectful and sad, which was exactly as it should be”.
ABC presenter, Juanita Phillips, welcomed all and explained how Lina’s Project came to be.
A 16-minute presentation was shown. The focus was the naming of perpetrators of abuse, as well as those who concealed their crimes, but Lina’s voice and words anchored the film and − along with statements from other victims and survivors who lent their voices − gave the presentation its compass.
The silence during the presentation was moving. One person described the event as “beautifully sensitive and heartbreakingly truthful”.
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