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elbourne plan 'not necessary in Perth' By Peter Rosengren A five-pronged strategy to help victims of sexual abuse by Church personnel of the type announced by Archbishop George Pell of Melbourne for his own archdiocese would not be necessary in Perth. moral theologian Father Walter Black said this week. Archbishop Pell announced last week of a number of initiatives designed to assist past victims of sexual abuse by clerics, lay people or religious under the archdiocese's control. Key Melbourne initiatives are: • the appointment of an Independent Commissioner, Peter O'Callaghan QC, to enquire into allegations of sexual abuse by priests, religious and lay people under the archdiocese's control; • the establishment of a free counselling and professional support service for victims, to be known as Carelinlc; • the formation of a compensation panel under the chairmanship of Alex Chernov QC, to provide ex gratia payments of up to $50,000 to victims of sexual abuse by archdiocesan personnel; • an upgrade of the archdiocese's existing pastoral response team which provides spiritual support and counselling at a parish level to victims; and • a service to provide counselling and support for priests and others accused of sexual assault. Archbishop Pell also apologised unreservedly to victims and people of the archdiocese for the actions of Catholic clergy and others in the archdiocese who he said had "betrayed the trust placed in them by virtue of the privileged position they occupy in society." Fr Black, a Missionary of the Sacred Heart priest and director of the L. J. Goody Bioethics Centre, said that with only one case of sexual abuse by an archdiocesan priest known of in the last 50 years, and another of indecent exposure, such a highlevel response as the Melbourne plan would be unwarranted in WA at present.
Perth: November 7, 1996
Young pro-lifer challenges apathetic WA Christians
"Clearly such a huge, five-storied structure as the Archbishop of Melbourne has 10,000 crosses - one for each baby killed by abortion in WA annually - on the Esplanade last described would be quite out of order, weekend during the Cemetery of the Innocents anti abortion commemoration unnecessary [and] unwarranted in the A young pro-life activist has thrown and Lands, Graham Kierath, the Member Archdiocese of Perth," he said. Fr Black is one of the two contact people down the gauntlet to WiVs Christians by for Helena, Rhonda Parker, and the memfor the Committee for Professional Stan- reminding them that their opposition to ber for South Perth. Philip Pandal. Archbishop Hickey praised the activists dards, the WA Catholic Church body which abortion might be no better than that of deals with allegations of sexual assault by German civilians during the Holocaust. and their supporters present, saying that In a letter to The Record after last week- for most of them there was no doubt that Church personnel. Fr Black was surprised at some aspects of end's Cemetery of Innocents commemora- the source of their commitment was their the Melbourne plan. "The first point of con- tion in Perth (see page 7), Stephen Gethin love of Jesus Christ who came to give abuntact is a lawyer and a man. We have a com- warned that ordinary Australians would dant life here on earth and eternal life in mittee here, according to the protocol of not remain exempt from God's judgment heaven. Final victory in the fight against abortion the national bishops [conference] ... com- just because they may have never had or and other life-threatening movements posed of doctors, psychiatrists, lawyers, carried out an abortion. psychologists, social workers etc and if any The public crime of 10,000 abortions a would come when the hearts and minds of allegation or complaint is made we choose year in Western Australia was only made ordinary citizens were converted, he said. the most appropriate person as the first possible by the consent or the indifference Before that, it appeared that the fight for was failing as abortions were on the point of contact." he said. l ife of the population. i ncrease and opponents of abortion faced He said that in some cases complaints "As I believe that those Germans whose continuing abuse, ridicule and marginalicould be made by women who would feel silence made the holocaust possible will sation in society. much more uncomfortable speaking to a be judged along with the guards at the conman about the details of their complaints centration camps, so But, the Archbishop said, they could take will we have to give as opposed to speaking to another woman. God comfort from placing their trust in the an account of our response to the The literature released by the Archdiopower of Jesus risen from the dead as "He cese of Melbourne said a priest had to be crime of abortion," Mr Gethin said. had already won the victory." "On judgement day I fear that we may convicted of a serious offence to be with"He will take your humble efforts and drawn immediately from all public and fare less well than our German brethren. multiply them," he said as the loaves and "They risked losing their lives if they fishes were multiplied. pastoral duties, Fr Black noted. - David Kehoe But in Perth a priest would be stood down opposed Hitler, we risk losing a few hours immediately there was any indication of of time here and there, and perhaps a litsubstance to a claim as opposed to waiting tle of our "respectability". for a conviction, he said. Last Saturday supporters of the Coalition The Australian bishops' protocol adopted for the Defence of Human Life planted several years ago was the basis of the Perth 10,000 small white crosses on the grass of archdiocese's own response strategy to The Esplanade by the central business disallegations of sexual assault against clergy trict in the form of one huge cross. Fr Black pointed out. For the next 24 hours a vigil was held in VOICES director Bruce Blythe said the memory of the 10,000 unborn babies killed organisation, which has been involved in in WA each year. litigation against the Christian Brothers And about 100 people, one person for over sexual abuses committed in Brothers- each 100 abortions, gathered early on Sunrun institutions, was considering approachday morning for a memorial service. ing Archbishop Hickey to request similar They were joined by the Catholic Archmeasures to the Melbourne initiative being bishop of Perth, Archbishop Barry Hickey, Instituted in WA. While VOICES welcomed some aspects Church of Christ pastor and executive of Archbishop Pell's initiatives it would director of Life Ministries, the Rev Dwight reserve its judgement and was sceptical Randall and Pastor Kier Schrader of the about the true independence of the inves- Langford Family Church. Three local MP s stood up for the unborn: WA MPs Graham Kierath, left, Rhonda Parker tigating commissioner and panel under the the Minister for Labour Relations, Housing and Phillip Pendal at the commemoration. Pell policy.
Christian Brothers and literacy
Perth offers thanks to God for Pope
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