Abuse in all its forms, is repulsive and must not be tolerated.Bishop apologises for clergy sex abuse

A New South Wales bishop has publicly apologised to the victims of sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic clergy.

About 500 people including victims, relatives and politicians last night gathered at Newcastle's Sacred Heart Cathedral, in the NSW Hunter region, to hear the apology.
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During the service, victims were invited to place an olive tree branch and personal symbols of abuse in front of the cathedral's altar.
A woman called Anne, who was a victim of sexual abuse, says the apology will help victims to heal.
"We witnessed something special. A significant turning point," she said.
"I think one of the hymns, 'Come from darkness into light', that's exactly what this diocese has done.
"We've had a lot of negative stuff in the past and it's amazing where we've come from to where we are today and it's a journey that we've experienced. It's just great."
She said she would like priests to give victims more active support.
"I think the priests in this diocese need to follow that response and support their community," she said.
"In the past, community's have been split because we were looked upon because we were thought of doing the wrong thing, so priests need to take a stand and believe the victims.
"I think that is very important. Tonight we had a lot of positive things, that obviously leads to change, so it's a very good start." rest


7th August, 2008

SERVICE OF SOLIDARITY

The 13th February, 2008 was a very significant day – it was the day that Australia said “sorry” for past injustices to the Stolen Generations of our Indigenous people.

For many years Australians had been calling for an apology. We even inaugurated a “sorry day” to prompt Government leaders to redress those terrible injustices of the past.

Nothing happened.

Thousands of people walked across the Harbour Bridge. They longed for the first step to be taken on the road to reconciliation. They knew that those first steps towards reconciliation could not happen if the Prime Minister refused to say sorry. For reconciliation to happen there has to be a sorry! Nothing happened.

Then came a change in Government. A new Political Party was voted in. We had a new Prime Minister. This new leader vowed to say “sorry”.
So many Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike, wept openly as Prime Minister Kevin Rudd uttered these words:
“To the stolen generations I say the following: as Prime Minister of Australia I am sorry. On behalf of the Government of Australia I am sorry. On behalf of the Parliament of Australia I am sorry.
I offer you this apology without qualification. We apologise for the hurt, the pain and suffering that we, the Parliament, have caused you by the laws that previous Parliaments have enacted. We apologise for the indignity, the degradation and the humiliation these laws embodied.”

In my opinion that day, 13th February, 2008, was a pivotal point in our Nation’s history. To be able to name and acknowledge past mistakes, to be able to admit fault and apologise, is a sign of a mature Nation.
Of course, people will be quick to add that an apology is one thing! Action must follow – and they are right to say so: action must support an apology.

From 13th February, 2008 we fast-forward to 19th July, 2008 when Pope Benedict XVI made an apology to all victims of sexual abuse at a Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral Sydney.

Prior to that occasion there had been considerable speculation that he might not apologise, although the Pope maintained that he had planned to apologise all along.
Just as Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised on behalf of the Government and Parliament of Australia, so too did Pope Benedict apologise on behalf of the Church.
These were the words he used:

“Here I would like to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy and religious in this country. These misdeeds, which constitute so grave a betrayal of trust, deserve unequivocal condemnation. They have caused great pain and have damaged the Church’s witness. Victims should receive compassion and care, and those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice. It is an urgent priority to promote a safer and more wholesome environment, especially for young people.”

Again, people will say that action must follow the Pope’s apology.
This gathering tonight is a declaration that the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle intends to act in a more compassionate and caring way towards victims of sexual abuse.

As bishop of this Diocese for over 13 years I admit to you that I have felt torn between loyalty to the Church, loyalty to Church personnel of whom I am one, and loyalty to the victims or survivors of sexual abuse.

That dilemma is now solved.

From here on in my first concern is for the victims of what I consider to be a repulsive crime. In the words of Pope Benedict I unequivocally condemn those clergy who have betrayed the trust placed in them by both the Church and the people of God, especially children and young people. They must be brought to justice!

I have met with and personally apologised to survivors on behalf of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. Tonight, at this public gathering, I apologise to you and to all the people of the Diocese for the great pain, the shame you have felt and the terrible damage done to the Church.

My heart grieves with my brother priests who have given their lives to serve a Church wounded by abusive behaviour.

As bishop of the Diocese I am sorry! On behalf of former bishops of this Diocese I am sorry! On behalf of the Catholic community of Maitland-Newcastle I am sorry!

To the people of Newcastle, the Hunter and the Manning, I am sorry! For my personal mistakes in this area I am sorry!

Be assured that this apology is genuinely expressed and is supported by the resolve to create a “safe and wholesome environment” for all our people especially children and the young.

I will no longer make excuses for the failure of the Church to be compassionate.

I will speak honestly and sincerely about the deep evil which is sexual abuse. Those responsible will be brought to justice.

I hope that this apology will enable all of us to face the reality of this terrible behaviour. Care of victims, be they individuals, families or parish communities, must always be our first concern.
Jesus honoured the sacredness of children. They are precious gifts to us from a loving God. Our society is being judged by the way we care for our children and the way we respond to those who have suffered as children and continue to suffer today. May we not be found wanting.

Most Reverend Michael MaloneBishop of Maitland-Newcastle

20th July 2008
Statement from Bishop Michael Malone Following the Apology made by Pope Benedict XVI to Survivors of Sexual Abuse by Church Personnel

I am heartened by Pope Benedict XVI’s apology to survivors of sexual abuse by church personnel offered during yesterday’s mass at St Mary’s Cathedral Sydney, particularly given the considerable speculation that it might not have happened.

I hope the apology was a moment of healing and acknowledgement for survivors of abuse and their families, a moment in which they may realise that the leader of the church recognises their experiences as a devastating and shameful part of our history. I am aware, however, that survivors of abuse all have individual needs for healing and that, for some, this apology will not be in the form they would have wished.

I believe the apology is a moment of maturity for our church, a small but significant step in our response to the issue of abuse by church personnel. Pope Benedict XVI called for all in the church to “work together” in “combating this evil”.

Abuse in all its forms, is repulsive and must not be tolerated.

We must continue to gain a greater understanding of the causes of this abuse and work to address them.
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Zimmerman House can be contacted on (02) 49408091. Toll free 1800 234 050

Most Reverend Michael Malone
Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle

Ontem apenas
fomos a voz sufocada
Uma papoila crescia, crescia