Have Your Say 

Recent Comments

1. Kevin Dillon, if only there were more men like you with some integrity in the ordained ministry, the church would not be in rut that we're in. Thank you for being honest.

   Posted By: TJ Lawson

2. It's to be hoped...however forlorn that hope might be...that there's sufficient spine in the ranks of Victoria's Catholic clergy for them to speak up publicly in support of Fr Dillon's clarion call.
   
   The so-called Melbourne Response system needs to be dumped.Its only specific intent was and continues to be to protect the church's financial assets at the expense of its real treasures...its mission and its flock.
   
   I repeat my call for the archbishop to step aside and for greater involvement of the laity in decision making.
   
   His remarks and his actions are simply not at all supported by the congregation. Church hierarchy alone does not a church make.
   
   The archbishop should be coaxed into a greater reading of St Paul regarding body parts and inter-reliance.
   
   Brian Haill
   
   St Francis Xavier's, Frankston.

   Posted By: Brian Haill

3. Kevin, Thank you for putting it so well. The church must be and be seen to be objective in this matter if it is to win its credibility back as the voice of christ.Otherwise it will continue to be seen as turned in on itself and not there for the world.

   Posted By: leo kane

4. We need to listen to both Denis Hart and Kevin Dillon. Clearly Denis' perception is that much good has been done and I am sure that is true. But what Kevin D says is also spot on. It is absolutely vital that the Church return to a position in our society where it can share the wisdom about life it has to offer to all. It will not ever be allowed that position again until, as Geoff Robinson said a couple of years ago, the Church acknowledges and owns every single case of abuse it has been responsible for and has does every thing in its power to bring about healing for those poor people. Surely finding out (independently) that that healing is occurring is not a bad thing. Even asking for feedback: has your counseling etc been helpful to you (by way of questionnaire) would be a good thing to do.
   
   I went to a Catholic Congress a couple of months ago and I noted with interest there was no Evaluation asked for: no inviting of feedback to see they got it right. I wanted to say a couple of things but there was no one to say it to. This is not a good set-up; no-one wants to hear criticism after they have worked their backsides off to organize some event. But why assume it will all be criticism??
   
   Final point: the more we love the Church, the harder it is to be really honest about it. That's why I think the only solution is to place the Truth (God) first. Facing every truth, happy or obnoxious will lead us towards God. Nothing else will.
   
   MIke Y

   Posted By: Mike Yates

5. Here is some of the transcript of the exchange on the ABC that has given rise to this news story about Father Dillon.
   
   Churches urged to review sexual abuse handling
   Print Email
   Australian Broadcasting Corporation
   
   Broadcast: 11/08/2009
   
   Reporter: Rafael Epstein
   
   It was part of an interview with a nun who felt let down by the way the Church had handled her complaints onder the Melbourne system
   
   "HELEN LAST: It totally achieves what it wants to achieve and that is to deflect legal liability for the Archdiocese and the Archbishop. It misses any appropriate understanding of a victim's life, of a victim's needs, the rights they have now in our society.
   
   RAFAEL EPSTEIN: One of the senior priests within the Archdiocese says the system needs an external review.
   
   KEVIN DILLON, PRIEST: Well I think in reality independence as a totality would be needed and we'd have to look for someone totally outside of the Church - is usually the best way to be seen to be completely independent.
   
   The whole saga of clerical sex abuse is an enormous problem."
   
   Father Dillon's comments in this context are a reasonable response to Rachael Epstein's comment that a senior priest wanted an external review and not a comment disagreeing with Archbishop Hart at all.
   
   Cardinal Pell appointed a trained QC, not a priest, to help give a more dispassionate and objective listening ear to victims and capping payments was a wise move because it prevents temptation to those in the world who would exploit the situation and make false claims.In America there are claims being made against deceased priests and there is an element of "guilty until proven innocent" emerging.
   
   This is not to diminish the horror and suffering that genuine victims have suffered In these cases huge cash settlements is not a solution but ongoing support with counselling and life skills mentoring and aid.Perhaps the Church should consider assigning a victim of abuse a social worker who helps them rebuild their life and and a personal confessor that they feel able to trust.
   
   This could be something some of our retired priests might feel able to help with-elderly good nuns and priests have such loving gentle spirits I have no doubt they could bring much solace to some victims.
   
   I realise some no longer feel able to trust anyone connected with the Church and in these cases compassionate laity can offer support.
   Christ warned there would be wolves in sheep's clothing which I think is the perfect description of those who prey on the innocent and vulnerable using the cloak of religion to get close to their victims.
   Even if they escape human justice they will face Divine justice one day and Jesus did say
   "Woe to those who scandalise my little ones"
   
   

   Posted By: Wisdom needed

6. Why is the Melbourne Diocese using a different response system from that used by the rest of Australia?
   Melbourne Response was set up by George Pell when he was in charge of Melbourne Diocese. Well known for doing it his way or no way.what a sorry state of affairs.

   Posted By: Peg Saunders

7. Yes, PLEASE listen to the victims AND include them in any future review.
   
   I am currently going through the process of trying to find some semblance of justice and compassion but more and more it seems to be becoming about protecting the priest who tried to seduce me during confession when I went to him for help. He won't write an apology and all I am getting is that the priest is now ill and his memory poor and a general third party apology which says nothing about what occurred - all no doubt under legal advice - a luxury, like his living standard - which I cannot afford. He will be looked after for the rest of his life while I and my family go down financially and emotionally making us almost beg for assistance and truth.
   
   Where is the justice? Where is the compassion? Where is Christ? I just can't take it anymore. But I will, I have to.
   
   A victim trying to be a survivor.

   Posted By: A victim trying to be a survivor.

8. Actually there is nothing in the quotes from Fr Dillon in the Age story which "calls for a review". And the Lateline story did not quote him at all. In the dubious possibility that the Fairfax/ABC press reported honestly for once on this issue, it would be "very unfortunate" that Fr Dillon had publicly contradicted his archbishop. That would be exactly what these people are looking for. Once they smell blood in the water, the media frenzy will accelerate.

   Posted By: Peter G

9. Peter G, you've hit the nail on the head - this is a media orchestrated frenzy - they don't care about victims, or truth, or anything, just ratings, sales and hoopla.
   
   And sadly while ever the Church is made of mere mortals we will be beset with the fruits of sin.
   
   Tearing at our Church leaders like crazed dogs won't make it any better.

   Posted By: Peter

10. Comments are good if they are effective. When they degenerate into discussing the 'finer' points of the debate, the original message is lost, which is ....
    
    " Father Kevin Dillon, parish priest of Geelong's St Mary of the Angels Basilica said the Melbourne Response system needs an external and independent review..."
    
    because of [my input] the continuing stories in the media of abuse, cover-up, denial and the delayed retribution towards those who speak up.
    
    Who of us wants this to continue?
    
    What needs to be done to restore faith in the Australian Church?
    
    The conversation has only just started!
    
    
    
    

    Posted By: Anna Dominguez Smith

11. It is not easy but the words of the Our Father remind us that Jesus wants us to forgive.
    Yes evil must be exposed and justice sought but we must also forgive and this is the hardest part.The searing pain of hurt inflicted on an innocent heart can render that heart so badly damaged that forgiveness seems impossible It is then we need to look at the crucifix and read Saint Brigid's description of the passion of Christ.If He can forgive our countless betrayals He who was all innocence and who allowed Himself to suffer so dreadfully for our sakes then we can ask him to forgive others on our behalf even if our own hearts still feel like hard stones. In time the gentle warming radiance of Jesus' warming love will thaw our damaged hearts and spring will return to saddened souls who have seen the evil of hell at first hand.
    
    
    21. "Then Keepa [Peter] approached him and said to him, "How many times* if my brother fools me, should I forgive him? Seven times?"*
    22. Jesus said to him,
    
    "I am not telling you until seven,
    except until seventy times seven seven.*
    
    23. "Because of this the Kingdom of heaven is
    ...like the man who wished to receive an accounting from his servants.
    24. "And as he began to receive them,
    they brought him one who owed him a thousand talents.
    25. "And as he did not have it to pay,
    his master ordered that he be sold,
    and his wife and children and everything that he had and pay up.
    26. "And the servant fell down and worshipped him
    and said,
    "My lord, extend your grace* upon me,*
    and I will pay you back everything.
    27. "And that servant's master took pity upon him
    and released him, and he forgave him his debt.
    28. "However, that servant went out,
    and found a fellow servant that owed him a hundred dinars
    And he grabbed him and choked him and said to him,
    'Give me what you owe me.'
    29. "And his fellow [servant] fell at his feet, begging him and saying,
    'Extend your grace* upon me and I will pay you back.'
    30. "But he was not satisfied, except he went and threw him in prison,
    until he paid him what he owed him.
    31. "And as their fellow [servants] saw what* happened,
    they became very displeased
    And they came and informed their master
    about everything that happened.
    32. "Then his master called him and told him,
    'O, wicked servant, I forgave you all that you owed, begging me,
    33. " 'Was it not your duty to be merciful to your fellow [servant]
    as I was merciful to you?'
    34. "And his master was angered and delivered him to the deliverers
    until he paid him back everything that he owed him.
    35. "This is what my Father in heaven will do to you,
    if a person does not forgive his brother his foolishness, from the heart.
    
    

    Posted By: Forgiveness is part of healing process

12. Father Dillon’s is the voice of reason – but only up to a point. There is no doubt that Melbourne’s process for dealing with sex abuse allegations would benefit from a review after some twelve years in operation. If that process has the capacity to interfere with police investigations such a review is urgent.
    Where I take issue with my colleague is his failure to offer any criticism of The Age’s treatment of the subject in its two day campaign earlier this week. On the first day, The Age took aim at the Melbourne process and its director Mr Peter O’Callaghan QC. The article was tabloid in style and tendentious in content. Its clear purpose was to paint the Melbourne process and Mr.O’Callaghan as ineffective and indifferent to the suffering of victims. There was no attempt to balance the picture presented. How fair is this assessment and treatment by The Age? Fr. Dillon doesn’t consider the matter.
    With the case in question, that of the priest recently convicted, it seems that the offender was quickly removed from his position after complaints were made. According to The Age article, the offender spoke of moving to another parish. But this did not happen and was never in contention. All are agreed that the ugliest aspect of sex abuse scandals in the past was the moving offending priests from parish to parish. There is no evidence that this has happened since Cardinal Pell set up the Melbourne process some 12 years ago. Catholics don’t expect balance from The Age when it deals with things Catholic; but we do from Fr. Dillon.
    The second day of The Age’s campaign was nothing but a personal attack on Archbishop Hart. It centred on an offensive remark the Archbishop is alleged to have made to a victim of priest abuse. Presumably the intent was to portray the Archbishop as indifferent, even hostile to victims and indeed all suffering people. Is this fair? Anyone who knows the Archbishop knows that this offensive remark was completely out of character. It was therefore a lapse, a serious one no doubt, but a lapse nonetheless. It was due entirely to the extraordinary circumstances in which the Archbishop was awakened in the early hours to what would normally be perceived as a personally threatening situation at his front door. Yet The Age used this incident in an effort to blacken the good name and character of the Archbishop. This is a low tactic. I suspect that The Age has an ulterior motive for stooping to this level, a motive that has little to do with the call to review the Melbourne process. I am sure Fr. Dillon doesn’t support this attack on Archbishop Hart. He should clarify the matter if more Catholics are to support his fine leadership in calling for a review of the Melbourne process.
    The victims of priest abuse should be our primary consideration. But if a fruitful conversation is to go on (as called for by a previous posting) the fears of ordinary Catholics and innocent priests also need be addressed. The former need some assurance that the terrible sex scandal will cease to be an opportunity for Catholic bashing by elements in the media. The latter need reassurance about the rights of accused priests, as it is, priests have lost the presumption of innocence. You can say anything you like about priests and it will be believed and turned into screaming headlines. The recent campaign by The Age gives little assurance to either group.
    

    Posted By: Fr. M. Shadbolt

13. While Father Shadbolt and others who have commented on this story make many reasonable comments, the fact remains that once again our Catholic leaders appear not to understand how much people's expectations, views and sentiments have changed.
    
    If the Archbishop did in fact utter the words he is alleged to have said to the victim of clerical sexual abuse (lapse or no lapse) it is highly regrettable for several obvious reasons, not the least because it reinforces the widely held perception that despite all the compassionate sentiments (some genuine, others not so genuine) expressed by members of the Catholic Church's Australian hierarchy, there is still an entrenched indifference (and in some cases, deep-seated hostility) among some bishops to the profound suffering experienced by the victims of clerical sexual abuse.
    
    If you doubt that this is correct, remember the legitimate and widespread outcry at the ill-chosen words that Bishop Fisher uttered in the run-up to World Youth Day.
    
    It is in this context, that the reported inability of Archbishop Hart to remember whether or not he uttered those words (as reported in the Age 11/82009), in spite of apologizing to the woman in the Melbourne Magistrates Court some five years ago), as well as his blunt, immediate and regrettable refusal to even consider instigating a review of the so-called "Melbourne Response System", reinforces genuine and deep-seated concerns about appropriateness, effectiveness and fairness of "Melbourne Response".
    
    Of course, Bishop Tomlinson's alleged comments about a so-called church sex abuse "victims' industry" only add to those concerns.
    
    In short, I am confident that most reasonable and fair-minded Catholics (and non-Catholics for that matter) would agree that after some 13 years in operation, it would be sensible and timely to conduct an independent and thorough assessment of the "Melbourne Response".
    
    While the Archbishop may be ultimately be proved right (that the Response Process is working well) it is clearly in the Archdiocese's longer-term interests (and the wider Australian Church's interests) to ensure that this is in fact the case.
    
    Should an independent and thorough review be conducted, and reach the opposite conclusion (that the "Melbourne Response Process" has serious flaws) then the Archbishop will need to publicly acknowledge that his views were mistaken, and take timely steps to change and improve the Process.

    Posted By: Brendan Ryan

14. Where is the justice? Where is the compassion? Where is Christ? I just can't take it anymore. But I will, I have to.
    Firstly yours is a courageous heart.
    Secondly keep in mind that when we do not achieve earthly justice Divine Justice awaits.If this priest refuses to provide an apology he still must meet His Maker one day and remember Jesus' words "Better that a millstone be tied around their necks than that they harm my little ones"
    Turn to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament sit with Him in silent adoration ,tell Him everything He will listen.
    Thirdly attend one of the healing masses that occur at Saint Francis Church in Lonsdale street and occasionally in parishes and receive the holy oils for the sick because your broken heart and and mind need the balm and comfort offered by this sacrament which can bring great strength and calm to the anxious heart.
    Lastly know that you are in the prayers of your fellow catholics who are so saddened by the pain and suffering you have endured.
    God Bless you and yours
    

    Posted By: Response to a victim trying to be a survivor.

15. I can quote the words of a victim who approached the Melbourne Response and eventually accepted some monetary compensation, that amounted to less than a year's salary after his health issues forced an early retirement at an age less than 50 years.
    
    Shortly before he died he said, referring to the Melbourne Response - "They just didn't care."
    
    That was his perception of how the Melbourne Response had treated him.
    
    Now whether that was justified or not, it indicates a level of dissatisfaction with the Melbourne Response that ought prompt just the sort of independent unbiased inquiry that Fr Dillon supported.
    
    No system can work without some difficulties, but the cases reported in the Age, and others known by those who support victims, indicate a review would be timely and would show that the Melbourne church really is showing compassion towards those hurt by errant clergy.
    
    Words of apology and expressions of compassionate support need to be realised practically, otherwise they are just "a gong sounding and cymbals clashing."

    Posted By: Jim Boyle

16. A correction to my earlier posting: Replace the words "show that" as below:-
    
    No system can work without some difficulties, but the cases reported in the Age, and others known by those who support victims, indicate a review would be timely and would ______ REVEAL IF ____ the Melbourne church really is showing compassion towards those hurt by errant clergy.

    Posted By: Jim Boyle

17. For a sharper focus of the current crisis created by the so-called Melbourne Response I refer everyone to a review of the film 'DOUBT' by Dr Richard Leonard, sj (Director - Australian Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting - see the webpage).
    Of great significance to me were his words: “The only thing DOUBT clarifies is that when it comes to true justice regarding child sexual abuse in the church, or any other serious issue, St Augustine in 5th Century was right when he said that “Hope has two lovely daughters, anger and courage: anger so that what cannot be, may not be; and courage, so that what must be, will be.”
    Kevin Dillion has provided the spark of anger but does Denis Hart have the spark of courage?
    

    Posted By: Michael Bowen

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