(AUSTRALIA)
Australian Broadcasting Corporation - ABC [Sydney, Australia]
March 20, 2024
By Rochelle Kirkham and Stephen Martin
- In short: The ribbons will be removed from the fence outside St Patrick’s Cathedral in Ballarat on Saturday.
- The bishop’s office says the ageing fence needs to be repainted.
- What’s next? Organisation Loud Fence wants the parish to meaningfully consult with survivors of abuse about the future of the ribbons.
Thousands of colourful ribbons tied to the fence of a regional Victorian cathedral as a show of support for survivors of child sexual abuse are set to be removed.
The Diocese of Ballarat says it will remove ribbons tied outside St Patrick’s Cathedral on Saturday morning, for the ageing wrought-iron fence to be painted.
It is unclear at this stage whether the ribbons will be returned to the fence or how they may be stored into the future.
Bishop Paul Bird’s office says the parish will continue to consult with survivors of sexual abuse and Loud Fence organisers to decide the best outcome.
The Loud Fence movement began in Ballarat in 2015 during the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Childhood Sexual Abuse.
It has since spread worldwide.
Consultation welcomed
The bishop’s office said in a statement that Loud Fence members and survivors of child sexual abuse were invited to be involved in the removal of ribbons.
The statement said the parish planned to have ongoing conversations with Loud Fence and survivors to decide the future of the ribbons.
Loud Fence Vice President Mark O’Brien said he met with Bishop Paul Bird and representatives from the cathedral last month and welcomed further discussions.
“The ribbons are people’s memorialisation of sexual assault and the impact it has on their lives and the lives of many who can’t speak,” he said.
“It is now up to the cathedral to show us leadership about what they want to do in this space.”
Dark history
Ballarat was an epicentre for institutional child sexual abuse for many decades in the 20th century.
It is where some of Australia’s most notorious paedophile priests, including Gerald Ridsdale, Robert Best, and Edward Dowlan worked.
Their crimes continue to have devastating effects throughout the entire community, with trauma from the abuse rippling through generations.
Mr O’Brien said he would be outside the cathedral while the ribbons were removed to support survivors of child sexual abuse who may feel distressed.
“I believe there is a lot of fear out there and a lot of distrust,” he said.
“The reality of the church pushing away responsibility, ignoring people and not believing people was not just an event that occurred over a short period of time. It was entrenched in the response of this institution.
“I really do hope the cathedral is able to take this moment and make it one that really shows how much things have changed, how much they are aware of the hurt and trauma that has occurred.
“It think that is the hardest thing for survivors. They believe there is no change, things are just the same and it is about protecting the brand.”
Future uncertain
The ABC understands the St Patrick’s parish has suggested storing the ribbons in a display case in the parish meeting room.
It has also suggested creating a memorial in the cathedral grounds including ribbons and a plaque, similar to a memorial at a nearby CFA.
Mr O’Brien said he hoped the parish would genuinely consult with survivors and acknowledge their pain, trauma, devastation and loss in a meaningful way.
“We don’t want this to be a quick solution,” he said.
“Some ideas have been put forward but before those ideas are put into concrete it needs to involve the right people first.”
There has been confrontation between parishioners, and survivors and their supporters, when ribbons have been removed at Loud Fence sites in the past.
In some instances groups of people have gathered to re-tie ribbons to fences after they had been removed.
Catholic Diocese of Ballarat Vicar General Marcello Colsante said when it came to a long-term memorial, the parish would consider any suggestions that were made in the consultation process.
“If further ribbons were to appear in the coming weeks, these ribbons would need to be removed so that the scheduled maintenance work, including pressure washing, applying primer, undercoat and top coat can be completed,” he said.