The Record Newspaper 02 November 1995

Page 1

The

Record PERTH, WA: November 2, 1995

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Number 2969

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Laity get larger role in diocesan decisions By Peter Rosengren Archbishop Barry Hickey has reorganised his top advisory body, the Archbishop's Council, to increase the participation of lay people in archdiocesan decision making Archbishop Hickey said the newly reconstituted council, set up to provide advice on diocesan policy, agencies and institutions, was an improvement on the old council, created in 1992. Announcing the formation of the new body, which will consist of laity, clergy and religious, he said that in its earlier form it had eventually proved to be too cumbersome and inefficient. However, in an effort to streamline the new body and to extend participation to lay people in its work, new terms of reference have been developed and new members invited on to the council. The members are: Archbishop Hickey; Bishop Healy, vicar-general (ex-officio); Monsignor Michael Keating, vicar-general; Father Tim Corcoran, vicar for priests; Sister Beverley Stott RSM, episcopal deputy for social welfare; Mrs Robin Beech, acting chairperson of Parish Life and Mission; Mrs Margaret Hubery, board member of Southern Cross Homes WA; and, Mr Peter Travers, a lawyer. The council meets every second Wednesday in the Cathedral office.

What's Inside . . . A page for priests - reports on the 30th anniversary of Vatican ll's document on priests, Presbyterorum Ordinis - Page 11 Reports of possible increased autonomy for East Timor keep surfacing - Page 2 A Perth parish priest, together with a local firm, have developed a computer program for busy priests on the run - Page 5 A roundup of parish news - Page 5

From Burma to Australia . . . . . . . and learning very fast

Two recently arrived students from Burma, now studying at Majella Primary School in Balga, have

"I am very pleased with the structure of won awards in the annual Multicultural Book Competition run by the Education Department. the present council," said Archbishop Sandy Trytwein (left) and Diana Trutwein are cousins who emigrated from Burma with their parHickey. ents in September last year. When they arrived at Male/la Primary School last year they could "It is small but competent. It allows the only speak a few rudimentary words in English, their teacher, Judith Vernon, said. It is a great participation of lay people and especially credit that the girls won a second place (Sandy) and a high commendation (Diana) for books they of women, in line with the Holy Father's wrote about their grandmothers in two languages - English and Burmese. insistence that women's gifts and talents be drawn into the service of the Church in decision-making as well as in all other areas of the Church's apostolate". The terms of reference of the new Council are: • to provide advice to the Archbishop on matters of diocesan policy; • to advise on action to be taken regardA new policy for responding to cases of investigate all complaints Archbishop ing diocesan agencies and institutions, sexual abuse of children by clergy and Hickey said. He also said that all parishes when requested; • to suggest and promote projects for the religious, offering help to victims and out- have been notified of the help which is lining what the Catholic Church in Perth is now available and have been asked to welfare of the diocese; • to receive reports from diocesan agen- doing about cases of child sexual abuse, publicise its existence among parishioners. cies, organisations and individuals when was issued this week. Archbishop Barry Hickey comments on The Church has been rocked in recent appropriate; and • to receive reports from episcopal vic- the new policy in his Perspective column years by the revelations of sexual abuse of ars and episcopal deputies about their In The Record today on Page 2. The new children by a small number of priests and policy follows the release by the Catholic Religious around the world. areas of responsibility. bishops of Australia of a document to In Western Australia, former students of Archbishop Hickey said that priests were guide the investigation of allegations of the Christian Brothers teaching congregagenerally well aware that he met with the child sexual abuse. tion have revealed experiences of abuse at vicars general and the vicar for clergy, According to a pamphlet released by the the hands of some Brothers while living as both to make clergy appointments and to Archbishop, a specially selected arch- boarding students at schools run by the deal with specifically clerical matters. diocesan Professional Standards Commit- brothers. "That will not change," he said. "Matters tee is now in place to deal with allegations Meanwhile, it has been announced that to do with priests as priests will not go and to provide professional help for fami- a central register of the names of convictbefore the Archbishop's Council. They lies and victims of child abuse by priests, ed child molesters and children who are will stay with the clerical advisers as at Religious or other Church personnel. believed to have been victims will be present". Counselling and therapy will be made maintained by the federal Department of available to victims of child sexual abuse, Family and Children's services, commencit says. ing in 1996. Archbishop Hickey described the revelaAll state government departments will tions of child sexual abuse by various be required to supply the information and Church personnel as "one of the most dis- the register will also record all actions and tressing things to emerge in Church life counselling of child victims. over the past ten years." In Melbourne last Monday, a Catholic "The abuse of trust, the seduction of the priest, Gerard Mulvale, 4Z was convicted innocent, the .permanent damage done to by a County Court jury of three counts of the most vulnerable, are crimes that fill us molesting a boy under the age of 16 eighwith shock and disbelief," he says. teen years ago. However, the Professional Standards He has also admitted sex offences Committee, which is made up of individu- against another boy under the age of 16 in als with expertise in this area, would the early 1980's.

Help for child abuse victims in new policy

Post-TEE counselling at CEO The Archbishop's new council - standing: Fr Tim Corcoran, left, Mrs Robin Beech, Bishop Healy, Peter Travers, Mrs Margaret Hubery. Sitting: Sr Beverly Stott RSM, left, Archbishop Hickey, Jane Pilkington (council executive officer) and Monsignor Michael Keating.

TEE starts this week, but the trauma of the exams will not end until results are posted in january, The Catholic Education Office has set up a special post-TEE counselling service to help students distressed or confused at their results. See Page 9 for further details and other TEE tips.


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