News

Pedophile priest victim calls for church inquiry

BY JOANNE MCCARTHY

29 Apr, 2010 04:00 AM

A PROMINENT Hunter businesswoman sexually abused by notorious Hunter pedophile priest Denis McAlinden had one message yesterday for the Catholic Church that knew of the offending but failed to alert authorities.

"I hope they rot in hell," she said after The Herald revealed documents showing "the good of the church" and McAlinden's "good name" were priorities as the church tried to force him from the priesthood, while the welfare of his child victims did not rate a word.

"It's unbelievable. I'm just dumbfounded. What did they feel, if anything, for the victims?" the woman said.

Other victims, victims' rights groups, and the Australian Lawyers Alliance called for a police investigation into why the Church did not report the "many allegations" about McAlinden to police, and for a broader national inquiry into the Church's handling of child sex abuse cases.

Others questioned whether revelations about his role in the secret attempt to defrock McAlinden would hasten Maitland-Newcastle Bishop Michael Malone's early retirement. Bishop Malone did not respond to Herald inquiries yesterday.

Lake Macquarie Police Detective Inspector Dave Waddell said police were reviewing The Herald's documents and "if there's an investigation or alleged offence that needs to be pursued, it will be".

Australian Lawyers Alliance spokesman Dr Andrew Morrison SC said his group strongly supported an inquiry.

Anyone who knew of serious crimes by clergy but failed to report them to police should be held accountable, he said.

Church abuse victim support group Broken Rites said the case showed the need for a government-appointed judicial inquiry because "McAlinden was no Robinson Crusoe".

"Broken Rites has researched many cases around Australia in which Church authorities harboured known offenders for many years," spokesman Dr Bernard Barrett said.

Survivors' group Crusaders NSW likewise supported calls for an independent, transparent investigation with powers to subpoena documents and call witnesses.

"The Church hierarchy has shown it can't 'face the music' so an inquiry is now called for," a spokesman said.

The woman whose formal statement in 1995 to Maitland priest and future Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson prompted the secret attempt to defrock McAlinden described the Church's actions as a cover-up.

"How dare Michael Malone say he wouldn't comment on McAlinden because he was dead and had no right of reply," the woman said.

"The message there is let him rest in peace, it's all over and done with now, but it's not.

"This needs to be investigated by police. There needs to be a full inquiry into the Church in Australia. For too long the Church has had its brotherhood where they cover for each other, but too many people are hurting now, and it's not just the victims."

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Yhe Roman Catholic church holds itself up as having some sort of connection to God and asserts that the Pope is a representative of God on earth. The truth is that over the centuries is that this church is is a power and money structure to serve those who are in it. This organisation pays no land taxes on the vast property holdings that it has, yet seeks to influence government law making on issues which affect the whole community. Politicians should treat this group like any other secular organisation.

Posted by Mick, 29/04/2010 5:01:20 AM, on The Herald

Suffer the little children come to them. Not bloody likely. It's a world wide disgrace. How do these 'men of God' sleep at night?

Posted by jake 69, 29/04/2010 6:04:57 AM, on The Herald

Check out the broken rites website. This appears to be far from an isolated incident.

Posted by mac, 29/04/2010 6:15:08 AM, on The Herald

I have no problem with the church "de-frocking" a priest who is a pedophile. I just have a problem with the church not passing that pedophile onto the police and justice system.

Posted by One Salient Oversight, 29/04/2010 7:02:41 AM, on The Herald

I think one one of the revelations of Fatima stated that; "Rome will lose the faith and the church will become the seat of the anti-christ". Considering the abhorrent and evil actions of this church I'd say this prophecy has been well and truly fulfilled.

Posted by G, 29/04/2010 7:03:57 AM, on The Herald

Its not just the Catholics. There needs to be a full inquiry into all of the churches. I was one of the victims of an Anglican priest who foolishly spoke up. My treatment by the church was nothing short of a concerted campaign by those in power to destroy my credibility and protect the priest involved. They were successful. The cover ups go right to the top

Posted by Your Kidding, 29/04/2010 7:11:30 AM, on The Herald

I attended St Pius X High School during the time of alleged assaults by one of the resident priests. I was not abused but was aware of the allegations among some students of abuse. To think this was covered up by those in charge is disgusting. To now see that our Bishops including current Bishop Malone worked to cover up alleged abuse by another priest is beyond belief. I agree with and have sympathy for the victim in the McAlinden case - ignored by the church whose priority was to cover it up and look after the weasel who perpetrated such a crime against an innocent child. Forget the victim - not a priest, not a male. It is disgusting and sickening and the thought of such a thing happening to any of my young children is abhorrent. A full inquiry and subsequent punishment of those who allowed this to happen is the least we owe these victims.

Posted by sadstateofaffairs, 29/04/2010 7:31:03 AM, on The Herald

It's good to see a paper doing a good job.Keep theses stories rolling till all the filth is properly cleaned out. This is where a Newspaper can triumph, to realise the crap that needs to be surfaced, I say lets do it !and get Australia honest right across the board. Keep it up!

Posted by PK, 29/04/2010 9:34:36 AM, on The Herald

Bishop Malone has been almost a lone voice in the Catholic Church speaking against the crimes of his clergy and employees from early in his reign. I do think that Malone is an honest man. But all Malone's good works will unravel bystatements like that he made yesterday. The victims of these horrible crimes are right to feel outraged by words like 'I will not speak ill of the dead' no matter how genuinely Malone may hold such a view. Bishop Malone must speak of the hundreds of good priests who loyally served his diocese over more than 100 years AND he must condemn the relatively fewer bad priests who betrayed those they had a duty to care for, particularly the children they abused.

Posted by safety first, 29/04/2010 10:24:40 AM, on The Herald

Denis McAlinden also did supply in the Bunbury diocese. I remember him when he visited our place - we just had him for morning tea, but I know he stayed over at other families' homes - those of whom had children. Given that these homes are in isolated rural Western Australia, I wonder if they even get access to such posts as this? What trail of damage has this man left? Some - or most? - abuse cases won't even come to light. Isolation maintains secrecy and silence. Last night on CNN, I listened to Cardinal Levada, the current head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith (his predecessor was Cardinal Ratzinger, now Benedict XVI) basically blaming the media and society for these scandals, while defending the Pope's and other bishops' actions. I shook my head at this immature reasoning. Things will only get worse for the institutional Church because leaders refuse to answer the hard questions, including the problems in the clerical culture that gives preference to confidentiality (secrecy), loyalty, obedience. Today we live in a culture of openness, accountability and critical thinking. The Church has to decide which contributes to the dignity of humanity. Society already has.

Posted by Jane Anderson, 29/04/2010 11:53:28 AM, on The Herald

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