IT’S been a harrowing two weeks for survivors of clergy sexual abuse in the Ballarat Catholic Diocese.
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The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse held the second of three hearings looking into how the church responded to claims in the diocese, which covers much of the western half of the state.
Witness after witness gave evidence that showed the extent of the crimes, little was done to help victims and the lengths taken to conceal, or at least, downplay the abuse.
Survivors and others, like Warrnambool’s Ann Ryan, who fronted the commission, should be applauded for having the courage to speak out.
But the commission, which aims to shed light and let the truth be told, is still somewhat shrouded in darkness.
Former Bishop Ronald Mulkearns, who presided over the diocese at the time, is in palliative care and unable to give evidence.
Australia’s most senior catholic, Cardinal George Pell, who also served as a high-ranking priest in the diocese during the 1980s and ‘90s, announced he would not make the trip from Rome to Melbourne for this week’s highly anticipated appearance before the commission because of medical reasons.
The victims need to know what these men knew about the crimes that were committed against them and deserve answers why priests, such as Gerald Ridsdale, were allowed to keep offending, leaving a trail of devastation wherever they went.
The commission heard from retired Hamilton priest John McKinnon, who said the terminally ill Bishop Mulkearns still struggled to sleep at night and was profoundly sorry for what he had done, or failed to do.
It’s not enough.
The victims deserve to hear it from the bishop himself, either in a sworn statement or by appearing before the commission.
Cardinal Pell has an opportunity to explain what he knew about the crimes. He needs to do it in person. He needs to explain why disgraced priests were moved from parish to parish. Why they were allowed to keep offending against the most innocent of victims and why nothing was done.
The Cardinal, though belatedly, can meet the survivors face to face – but not in the combative realm of fear and accusation. Rather, to present what he can of those things they most require; the fearless truth; contrition and compassion.
If not the, Catholic Church will continue to be cloaked in darkness.