A hurt and betrayal felt by all Catholics -- Bishop says Church lacked child-abuse insight

Catholics have felt hurt and betrayed by clerical and religious abusers of children, Bunbury's Bishop [Gerard] Holohan says in a pastoral letter to parishioners this week.
  Many now felt confused, torn between love and loyalty to the Church on one hand, and the natural repugnance against the crimes reported in the media on the other.
  Society had been affected and bewildered by the media coverage of the abuse by a small minority of clergy -- perhaps one percent of clergy -- Bishop Holohan said.
  "We have felt horror at the sufferings of the victims, and the betrayal of their right to have complete trust in any and every priest and religious," Bishop Holohan said.
  "Priests and religious have felt bewildered and embarrassed to

[Picture of balding man wearing glasses] Bishop Holohan

learn of the crime committed by priests and religious of earlier decades.
  "They feel particularly betrayed by those among their ranks who in more recent times have violated the ideals of their vocations.
  "While there have been many expressions of support by Catholics for the vast majority of faithful priests and religious today, there is a fear that the sacred trust between priests and people may be weakened," the bishop said.
  There had also been anger in the Catholic community at the sensationalism used by some media in reporting the abuse.
  "The commonly stated opinion expressed to me is that some media reporting tends to tarnish the Church, and to create a climate of

suspicion against the vast majority of priests and religious who have given their lives to the service of God and others."
  In making a series of recommendations for Catholics to deal with situation and associated problems, Bishop Holohan said it was the cause of trials for many Catholics. Apart from those already mentioned there were:

• problems raised by snide remarks and ridicule against the Church by those wishing to harm to [sic] it
• the sense that the credibility of the Church and Catholics in general is under question
• the sense that some angry at the Church's moral teachings on contemporary issues, including sexuality, are exploiting the situation.

  Bishop Holohan said: "The trials experienced by Catholics today are Christ's trials. Those who remain faithful earn the appreciation of Christ."
  He said the credibility of the Church rests on its founder -- Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is also human -- not on good or bad behaviour of its members.
  "No-one in the Church claims to be perfect. In the Church, we -- Pope, bishops, priests or people -- must recognise our sinfulness and do all we can to reconcile ourselves with God.
  "The apostles, including Peter, showed how followers of Christ could sin again.
  "People who believe priests and religious can do no wrong misunderstand the nature of the Church."
  Bishop Holohan urged all Catholics -- all people -- to pray

daily for all victims of sex abuse, that they may find the healing and peace the Lord alone can give.
  He pointed out there are many victims -- the families of the victims and families and close friends of perpetrators.
  Bishop Holohan said the Church like other authorities lacked insight in earlier times in the effect of sex abuse on victims, and the psychology of offenders. Mistakes then were because of that lack of insight.
  But since 1996, the Church in Australia has had a comprehensive plan for dealing with all aspects of sexual abuse, that includes the development of preventive principles and standards of behaviour by priests and religious in the exercise of their ministries.
  The plan is the Integrity in Ministry document, which can be accessed through local parishes.

  He said a common claim in the community, the abuse would not occur if priests and religious were permitted to marry overlooks statistical evidence that most sex abuse occurs within extended families.
  It also misunderstands the nature of celibacy.
  The bishop said: "Celibacy is a form of Christian love that is open to all people, and dedicated to their service." It was the love found in the heart of Jesus, and expressed in His life and ministry.
  Just as married love cannot be understood correctly if seen solely in terms of losing the right to marry another, celibate love cannot be understood in terms of the rejection of marriage.
  "Catholics can help others to understand the vocation of celibacy by helping them first to understand the love of Jesus," Bishop Holohan said.

FURTHER READING
• Former Brisbane Anglican Archbishop Peter Hollingworth (now Governor-General) defends himself against calls for his resignation over promoting a clergy child sex-abuser. The Weekend Australian Feb 16-17 02
• Guidelines for handling clergy abusing children www.multiline.com.au/~johnm/nonmarital.htm Feb 19 02
!!!: Father Kelly's escape to Belgium stymied by 77 more charges The West Australian Feb 28 02
• Viceroy says sorry to abused woman whom he had said aged 14 had initiated sex acts with Donald Shearman (later Anglican Bishop) The West Australian Mar 2 02
!!!: Polish archbishop quits over sneaking along tunnel to seminary dormitory The West Australian Mar 30 02
!!!: Irish Bishop resigns over boy-sex cleric, had tried everything but dismissing Fr Sean Fortune! The West Australian Apr 3 02
!!!: Confessional rapes? Accused U.S. priest Paul Shanley may be jailed for life; Boston diocese backs out of settling for $75m for 86 John Geoghan victims The Sunday Times Perth May 5 02
!!!: Bishop on homosexual priests' internet newsgroup! South African Bishop Cawcutt resigns, http://allafrica.com/stories/200207190010.html and The Record Jul 25 02
!!!: Two US priests on boy-sex charges in Canada during pope's youth visit! &, Victims claim U.S. priests still abusing The West Australian Jul 31 02

FURTHER READING, continued
!!!: See-through confessionals in San Jose? "Where seeing is believing" The West Australian Aug 14 02
• R.C. Sydney Archbishop George Pell faces abuse claim, www.abc.net.au/news/2002/08/ item20020820 ABC news Aug 20 02
• Brisbane Poor Sisters of Nazareth sued in the Supreme Court of Queensland for sexual and physical abuse at orphanage in the 1940s and 1950s, $75,000 compensation already paid. -- The Bulletin http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/bulletin/EdDesk. "Breach of Faith," Wed Aug 28 02
• "The facts about Wesley College" principal John Bednall's website breaches, police were told, and he resigned. Western Impact Sep 02, p 1
• Church leaders knew priests were doing unspeakable things to kids, and ignored it. -- Answer to Bunbury Bishop Gerard Holohan's Sep 5 statement that the Church lacked child-abuse insight. Approximately Sep 14 2002
• "Party priest jailed for sex abuse of schoolboys, " 10 1/2-year term by NSW court; Fr Vincent Kiss, 70, The Weekend Australian, "Ex-priest's jail for child sex," Sep 14-15 02, and Sydney Morning Herald, "Party priest jailed for sex abuse of schoolboys," www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2002/09/13/ 1031608326919.htm Sept 14 02
• Bishops sued on child sex counts. Claim U.S. Catholic bishops held seminars to discredit claims and conceal priests' records. Church paid $5.2 million last year re Mons. Michael Harris The West Australian Sep 18 02