The Record Newspaper 06 April 1995

Page 1

LRE PERTH, WA: April 6, 1995

Mercy Sisters get an ABC apology PRINT POST APPROVED PP602669/00303

Number 2939

ELAIDE: A complaint by the Sisters of Mercy about an ABC X feature on the Goodwood Orphanage has been upheld. 30 Report

POST ADDRESS: PO Box 50, Northbridge, 6000 W.A. LOCATION: 587 Newcastle Street, Cnr Douglas St (near Loftus St)

TELEPHONE: (09) 22 77 080

FAX: (09) 22 77 087

PRICE 600

Church's eSSa e ...and five symbols that stand out CHURCH building had several symA mlic messages for the general community and for Christians who use the building,

Perth's

On February 10, 1994 the ABC's 730 Report featured a story on the Goodwood orphanage in the 1950s and 1960s when the orphanage was run by the Sisters of Mercy. The promotional material on ABC TV and Radio 5AN, and a subsequent program on 5AN, contained implications that the children at the orphanage had been sexually abused. The Sisters of Mercy complained to the Independent Complaints Review Panel (ICRP) that the implications of sexual abuse were unfounded and, after considering the matter, the ICRP upheld the complaint by the Congregation. Following a directive of the Managing Director of the ABC, Mr Brian Johns, an apology has been broadcast on the 7.30 Report and on the Murray Nicoll program on 5AN. Congregational leader Sister Mary Densley said after the finding: "The Mercies have a long and proud tradition in this State, particularly in social welfare and social justice." "The implications that children at Goodwood had been sexually abused was false and very distressing to the Congregation." Sr Densley noted that last year the former congregation leader, Sr Christine Keain, had publicly said: "We greatly regret that there are women still hurting over childhood experiences at Goodwood Orphanage and we, are most anxious to do anything in our power to heal that hurt." Sr Densley re-affirmed these sentiments and invited anyone who wanted to speak about the matter to contact the Congregation Office on (07) 212 5456.

newest

Catholic church, St. Luke's at Woodvale incorporates a community centre (right) adjacent to the church proper whose facade has frontages to two streets. • See Page 11

Archbishop Hickey said last Sunday. The new church of St Luke which he dedicated at Woodvale made a statement to the world saying that his building is for the worship of God and "we the people call you to honour the Lord," the archbishop said. The church is also a symbol of people who are the Church, he said. The church is the Body of Christ and the church is the people of God. It proclaims we are a community of Christ gathered to worship God entered on the Blessed Eucharist and gathered in the name of Christ. A further symbolic message from the church building, the archbishop continued, was that people gathered around the altar to worship God in a particular way through the Mass. Just as the apostles had gathered with Christ at the Last Supper so we do the same when we share his sacraments by receiving the Body and Blood He shed for us and the world. The fourth symbolic message was about all the sacraments - not just the eucharist - began a new venture of love and most of which would be received in this echoed with the joy of couples. It building with people being baptized into was also the place where young new life, initiated into faith at confirmation, where penance is offered to us who men could hear the voice of Christ acknowledge we are sinners and are for- calling some in the parish to holy given and Christ is present there to wel- orders - with possibly some of them being ordained one day in St Luke's, come people back into repentence. The church was a place where marriages the archbishop said.

here, not just to Mass, but to lelarn their Catholic heritage, to hear the beauty of the church's teaching, to learn to genuflect and pray at the The fifth symbolic message, the archbishop said, was to schools and tabernacle, be present at the altar as children. with Jesus at the Last Supper, not Parents would bring their children just with the Twelve, but with 1200.

The church would also receive the bodies of those who had received the sacramental anointing of the sick

'Take encyclical message to heart' E message of Pope John done the Church and the world "If we really believe that Paul's encyclical on respect a service by proclaiming fear- human life is a gift from God for life needs to be taken to lessly and clearly that life is a and that ills made in the image heart by all Catholics, Arch- gift from God deserving of the and likeness of God, it will bishop Hickey said this week utmost respect. affect the way we view war, torture, grinding poverty, "In a plural society like ours," "He has presented a religious refugees, capital punishment, he said "it is possible for view of the human person, one Catholics to become confused made in the image tind like- abortion and euthanasia. about life issues, given the vari- ness of God. A purely secular "On capital punishment the ety of conflicting opinions, that view does not afford the same Holy Father asks whether the surround them. dignity or sanctity to human circumstances would ever "The Holy Father has again life. arise that would Justify it.

"On euthanasia he makes the necessary distinction between dying and killing. One does not have to continue with very burdensome medical treatment to prolong life, but one can never directly kill an innocent person.

"On abortion he reaffirms what we already know, that it Is the taking of innocent human life and Is therefore never per-

missible. He goes further to say that we have an obligation to oppose policies that facilitate it. "No doubt there will be controversy about the Encyclical. That is to be expected, In the matter of the sanctity of human life the Holy Father has spoken with the authority that Jesus himself gave to Peter." • See Pages 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.


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