Confessional no excuse
Father John Fitzgerald (The Standard, June? ) this is exactly why children are abused by paedophiles. Once again an example of the church putting its confessional before the children. There is no balance to be made, its about right and wrong, sexual abuse is so very wrong. If you want to help as you stated, stop hiding behind the confessional seal, stop making excuses for a pathetic, outdated ritual and start making amends by disclosing anyone anywhere who admits to such atrocities. By not doing anything you are actually giving permission to keep doing what they do.
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Vicki Walter, Warrnambool
Keep children safe
Oh come on John, i think the catholic church has lost all rights to have an opinion on what might or might not keep children safe from priests who sexually assault children.
Pat McLaren, Warrnambool
Hard look needed
There needs to be a hard look at the processes and choices made by the Lookout Centre Residential Rehabilitation facility proposed for Dennington.
The Dennington Community has demonstrated an overwhelming opposition to the choice of site in Atkinson’s Lane. This is not because nobody wants it in their backyard but because it will create a catastrophic outcome not only for the farming neighbours and lifestyle properties there but also because the locals know that it will have very little chance of working there.
Members of the Steering Committee have been unable to assuage the fears of many locals over security arrangements. On the one hand the community has been told that the Centre is not a gaol and on the other that it will have coded doors and windows that only open partway to prevent absconders.
The Dennington Community has worked to raise money for a Lookout Centre because we know the region needs one but not at the expense of livelihoods and homes. It has been fed falsehoods and obfuscation and has never been adequately consulted. We know that a facility cannot work in Atkinson’s Lane.
Richard Ziegeler, Dennington
Changing attitudes
I feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the problem that is intergenerational and deeply ingrained misogyny and toxic masculinity. It is the culture that tells boys it is not ok to cry and share their emotions; that feminine behaviours and pastimes are a sign of weakness, to be derided and jeered at. It is the culture that means so few men speak out about men’s violence. It is the culture that blames women for their own rape and murder, and says it is women’s job to fix it. It’s the comment sections that scream “not all men!!”, instead of asking why do some men feel such rage? It is the culture that says you must be vigilant (we are vigilant), but cannot question the power structures that make it necessary. I am tired, and sad, and angry, and scared. But the vigil on Monday night was a beautiful display of love and grief. All we can do is have conversations, call out bad behaviour, and slowly we change culture. It is shifting, as we shed light on the darkness in society.
Florence Roney, Warrnambool
Top heavy structure?
The management at the city council appears very top heavy when you consider we have a corporate services director, corporate strategies director, infrastructure director, economic development and investment manager, renewal project manager, environmental health co-ordinator, environmental officer, there are more directors, managers, superintendents with each having assistants in each department, my question is what do these people do 8 hours a day? The City of Warrnambool is not a big city compared to other regional cities.
Terry McInerney, Warrnambool
Not everyone’s view
Web Words (June 16) Gordon Curran calls negative feedback on parking meters “hysteria”, but he should have twigged from his years in the ivory tower that it's just that some people are not as smart as his illustrious self, nor as well off. Have you forgotten unconditional positive regard Gordon?
Shirley Duffield, Naringal East
Protect gardens
I wish to clarify some issues raised in recent articles and letters relating to the Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum and the caravan park that occupies land within it. Corangamite Shire Council made a budget allocation of $200,000 for a ‘toilet block’. In fact, it is proposed to build two amenity blocks with toilets, showers and laundry in the centre of the area currently leased for the operation of a commercial caravan park business. While the existing amenities including toilets and playground may currently be available to botanic garden visitors, under the terms of the lease, the caravan park business has exclusive right to their use. The caravan park does not and has never provided a ‘revenue stream’ for Corangamite Shire. It pays virtually no rent and is actually a cost to ratepayers. Being located on Crown Land, the caravan park is only allowed to be used for temporary holiday accommodation. Local housing affordability issues must be addressed elsewhere. The caravan park has recently been turned into a commercial tradeable enterprise. The leasehold has been offered on the market by the current proprietor for $835,000. Council has no budget for the Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum, yet has allocated $200,000 for a facility for this caravan park business. This is not ‘equitable treatment’, as claimed. Council is currently on a path to destroy the Camperdown Arboretum. It has leased the entire 24 hectares to private interests so as to deny public access. It neglects the proper management of trees and is failing to fulfil its obligations under the Victorian Heritage Act. The Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum Trust is determined to ensure this public park, which will celebrate its 150th anniversary next year, is conserved and improved for the benefit of the public now and into the future.
Janet O’Hehir, Camperdown