The Catholic Archbishop of Canberra/Goulburn has renewed his apology to victims of child sexual abuse who suffered at the hands of those within church ranks.
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Archbishop Prowse’s comments followed damning evidence before the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
It revealed that 17 people associated with religious orders in the Canberra/Goulburn archdiocese were accused of sexually abusing children, according to analysis by The Canberra Times of church data tendered to the inquiry.
Statistics also showed that 8.5pc of priests within the archdiocese in the 2000s were the subject of sexual abuse claims that could have occurred then or prior. The figure was 7.3pc for the 1990s, 7pc for the 1980s and 6.6pc in the 1970s.
Nationwide, 22 per cent of Christian Brothers were believed to have abused children, counsel assisting the inquiry, Gail Furness SC said. In contrast, 40 per cent of St John of God brothers were accused of child sexual or indecent assault.
Archbishop Prowse will front the inquiry before Justice Peter McClellan on February 21.
“I will be joining a number of regional bishops on a panel at the Royal Commission speaking about what is in place in our Church structures to safeguard children today,” he told The Post.
He said the abuse spanned decades across large and small institutions within the archdiocese but would not say how much it had paid out in compensation.
“Once again, I offer my sincerest apologies to those who suffer due to the criminal behaviour over many years of some among us,” Archbishop Prowse said.
“As Pope Francis has said recently: ‘It is a sin that shames us.’ I can assure you that many measures are now in place in the Archdiocese, please God, to prevent these horrendous crimes from happening again.
“From these troubling times, I am hopeful that new mentalities and structures within the Church in Australia will assist us to move ahead humbly with the work of the Lord.”
In recent years, Archbishop Prowse established the Institute for Professional Standards and Safeguarding (IPSS). Its director is former Goulburn detective, Matt Casey. The Institute aims to develop training, policy, healing of victims and compliance surrounding child protection and safeguarding.
“I have instigated and aim to fully implement a governance structure that brings our survivors of sex abuse from the margins into the centre of our pastoral response,” Archbishop Prowse said.
“Some survivors have spoken most positively of Church officials once the abuse was reported. However, too many regrettably have spoken of being confronted by a brutal and defensive Church governance structure that refused to take responsibility.
“The aim is to support survivors with the reassurance that all our communities are safe, our children and vulnerable people are truly cared for, and the spiritual dimension of all we do is not compromised by unethical and criminal behaviour.”
The Archbishop issued a pastoral letter to parishioners last Thursday informing of his appearance before the inquiry.
CEO of the Truth, Justice and Healing Council Francis Sullivan told Monday’s hearing that 1265 priests and religious brothers nationwide were the subject of child sexual abuse claims.
“These numbers are shocking, they are tragic, they are indefensible,” he said.