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New Zealand Herald
February 22, 2003
Priests' victims fear to talk: counsellor
by James Gardiner
The
Catholic Church has been asked to let an independent body take over its
handling of sex abuse complaints against
The call comes from counsellor Brent Cherry, who says
some victims have lost trust in the church because of coverups
and mishandled complaints and fear to come forward.
Bishops and leaders of the church's many religious orders begin their annual
conference in Waikanae this weekend, and dealing with
sex abuse claims is on the agenda. The protocol for dealing with allegations
may be reviewed - three years earlier than planned.
Three hotlines set up last year drew more than 100 fresh complaints.
The Weekend Herald last week reported how Mike Phillips, 50, kept secret for 36
years a sexual assault by Father Tom Laffey when he
was 13.
Like dozens of others, he came forward last year, but seven months later is
still bitter at the way the Society of Mary dealt with him.
Although Father Laffey apparently admitted the abuse
when confronted, Mr Phillips said the order's vicar-provincial, Father Tim
Duckworth, gave different stories about whether there were other victims.
Father Duckworth declined to answer Herald questions about the case, despite
getting written clearance from Mr Phillips to do so.
The complaint was handled fairly and compassionately, Father Duckworth said.
The order helped with counselling, apologised, made a payment to Mr Phillips
and was concerned that its "intervention" had led to further pain for
him.
Father Peter Murnane, of the Dominican Friars, said
the church faced a dilemma over whether to take a legal or pastoral approach.
"If you take the lawyers' stance, they say admit nothing, like an accident
scene, and that's very, very harmful ... It shouldn't be in the hands of the
lawyers, I believe."
Mr Cherry said the Society of Mary had taken a "legalistic" approach
to complaints rather than follow procedures it had signed up to in the Path to
Healing protocol.
"A lot of people don't trust the church any more because of what's
happened, so won't come forward."
This was illustrated by the church's failure to provide detailed information
about the number of complaints, their nature and howit
had dealt with them.
The Herald was told it would have to approach every religious order separately.
Some orders refused to provide information.
"That's privileged information," said one priest.
"I'm not going to go into it," said another.
Other orders, notably St John of God and the Marist Brothers, were forthcoming
with information and have been praised by Mr Cherry and Mr Phillips for their
considerate handling of complaints. Mr Cherry said other orders and dioceses
could learn from their approach.
Only St John of God is continuing to answer its toll-free number (0800-888-463).