Over 10 years to sack man whose home was used by acolyte to molest children
Anger over sacking of St Mary's stalwart

  One of St Mary's Cathedral's most senior and long-serving figures has been unceremoniously sacked over his association with a fellow church worker convicted of child sex offences which took place more than 20 years ago.
  David Russell, who has served as St Mary's choirmaster and music director since 1976, was dismissed last Friday by the cathedral's dean, Monsignor Tony Doherty.
  In 1988, a former cathedral acolyte, David O'Grady, was sentenced to 18 months' periodic detention after pleading guilty to seven counts of indecent assault on two children, aged 10 and 12. In 2001, he was found guilty of one count of indecent assault against a child. He was sentenced to 350 hours' community service.
  The offences, committed in the early 1980s, allegedly took place in Mr Russell's inner-western Sydney home, and the decision was made last Friday to terminate his employment, Monsignor Doherty confirmed yesterday.
  There is no suggestion that Mr Russell was involved in the offences and his supporters said he had been unaware of the attacks. Mr Russell has declined to comment but it is understood he is considering taking legal action on the grounds of unfair dismissal.
  The sacking led to a boycott of Sunday's Solemn Mass by the men of the cathedral choir, and parents of child choristers angrily confronted the dean after the service.
  A letter of protest from the adult choristers was sent to Archbishop George Pell's office yesterday. Dr Pell's spokesman referred all questions back to Monsignor Doherty, who defended the sacking, saying the church had carefully followed due process.
  He said Mr Russell was not under further church investigation; nor was he the subject of any police investigation.
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Sydney Morning Herald, "Anger over sacking of St Mary's stalwart," by Kelly Burke, Religious Affairs Writer, February 6 2003
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[COMMENT: Regarding the anger from parents and adult choristers, glance at the Gospel of John 11:35. END of COMMENT]
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INTENTION: The intention of this group of Webpages is NOT to HARM religion, but to encourage the present religious leaders to 1. Admit that the religions' sex-abuse and child-abuse problems are long-term, widespread, and seriously damaging, and reduce the effectiveness of religion, 2. Acknowledge the survivors, and compensate, apologise to, and pray for them regularly, 3. Apologise to, reinstate, and reward nuns, brothers, clergymen, and others who have told their leaders of the abuse, sometimes suffering for their bravery. 4. Stop hiring and hiding sex-abusers, 5. Stop pretending that clergy don't have sex, 6. Stop telling lies about child abuse and sex abuse, 7. Stop spending people's donations to pay for hiding employees' criminal activities, 8. Join with people of good will to eradicate abuse, and cease blaming the news media, 9. Remove the worst of the leaders who have connived at the child sex abuse, and 10. Adopt policies that will prevent potential abusers entering the ministry.


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