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1. What makes Bishop Connors so certain that there was no assault? Gerard Ridsdale is in prison and has pleaded guilty to several counts of child sexual abuse: might not Ms Tiffin have been one of them?
   If there was no abuse, what led the Sisters of Nazareth to pay $12,000 in compensation?
   It is difficult to see any benefit or justice being served by reading the lawyer's letter to every Catholic congregation in Melbourne. Indeed I immediately suspect the motives behind this request. That's one thing.
   For the Bishop of Ballarat to rush to denial, however, is altogether another. By the same token then, I wonder his motives for making such an unequivocal statement to the press.
   

   Posted By: Dr Frank Donovan

2. Another example of 'lazy journalism' from THE AGE. The woman concerned was one of many residing at a children's home. Has any other man or woman from that home come forward with a similiar story. And suppossedly, she was taken to the priest not by one nun in particular, but by 'the nuns'. So, not just one woman but a number of women were in cahoots with this man. It occurs to me that there are other motives for making such a claim. Three that spring immediately to mind are revenge, avarice and mental illness. Perhaps she is telling the truth, perhaps she isn't. But I would like a LOT more evidence. Why did the sisters pay compensation? A mistake I think. Alleged crimes should be tested in court. Or with this particular allegation are we shifting from 'presumption of innocence' to 'presumption of guilt'. Who's in charge of gathering the faggots?

   Posted By: Matthew Dewar

3. I would feel much happier if Bishops would use a legal spokesperson to comment on these matters.
   It would also be sensible for each Diocese to have a trained media person who comments when the media want comment about whatever.

   Posted By: david anthony davies

4. What will be the harm in pinning the letter to the bulletin boards at the back of the Churches, instead?
   Good governance means that when issues from the past see the light of day, it is best to be open to them, investigate them, refer them to the relevent authorities, if necessary, then get on with it.
   Do not take things personally.
   Parishoners' faith will be restored. We will see that they are practising what they preach.
   The purging of past leadership failings, will quicken for a while, then dissipate to a 'normal' rate. Once it is accepted that all institutions have a certain number of dilemmas to solve, the sooner our Faith will prosper again in practice and the churches will fill.
   Then the children will return of their own accord. Bring it on!
   
   
   

   Posted By: Anna Dominguez Smith

5. Fearing being vulgar, but my understanding of Ridsdale was he is homosexual with a pedophile disposition ie his victims were young males. I was unaware of female victims being the subject of the criminal prosecutions or subsequent complaints handled by the Church. I could be wrong.
   As for the compensation paid by the sisters, being a ward either in the care of the Church or indeed the state, is no holiday.
   I suspect Ms Tiffin would have much to complain about there. Payments and a denial of assault is not inconsistent. (One thing that should be noted is the Church admits fault [now] and coughs up. There are plenty of claims made by wards of the state which the government in Victoria is doing everything it can to 1) denial liability and 2) clap down on any media coverage. Just an interesting point of comparison.
   

   Posted By: Daniel McGlone

6. How disappointing that the Archbishop is not confident enough in his priests that he has to make such a public request.
   But I don't blame him; there will be a minority of priests who have an agenda best characterised as 'white-anting' or 'biting the hand that feeds it'.
   This should be sorted out away from and without the media inflaming emotions or skewing memories and judgements.

   Posted By: Chris saidou

7. Why do so many of you add insult to injury to the victim by saying she was was not abused. None of you were there.
   Maybe the nun got girls for the priests so that she would not abused by him. These things did go on.
   As far as saying "Ridsdale was he is homosexual with a pedophile disposition ie his victims were young males". An ex-priest is at present on charges of being involved in a pedophile ring which involved young boys but now it seems he also abused girls.
   One of these days, all this is going to come falling down around the church and people will wake up and see what has been covered up for so long.

   Posted By: Jim

8. Yet another allegation that sounds uncannily like an attempt at blackmail.

   Posted By: Nathan Socci

9. The statement by the Archbishop that he was certain Ms Tiffin was not the victim of clergy sexual abuse is outrageous. How does he know, was he there? It seems he can vouch for the priest 1000%.The only person I would suggest he can vouch for 1000% in this matter is himself & his own behaviour. Indeed he is the man who told an other woman sexually abused by a priest to 'go to hell, bitch'. How Christ- like of him. I know he is only human..but c'mon.Why would people have faith in the Catholic to church to investigate itself with regards to this matter when victims are treated like this?

   Posted By: Jane Harding

10. ANNA DOMINGUEZ SMITH, you seem to have missed the point of Archbishop Hart’s directions to the priests of the archdiocese. The alleged events took place in another diocese. It is not for the priests of Melbourne to become involved in this way.
    None of us knows the precise content of the letter. It may well be that, from a legal perspective, it is not appropriate or prudent for the letter to be read out or pinned to a notice board belonging to the church.
    “The only person I would suggest he can vouch for 1000% in this matter is himself & his own behaviour”
    In this poorly constructed sentence, just who is the male person to whom you refer.
    “The statement by the Archbishop that he was certain Ms Tiffin was not the victim of clergy sexual abuse is outrageous.” JANE HARDING, please refer me to where the Archbishop says that the woman in question was not abused.
    Not living in Australia, Felix, perhaps I miss out on some of the more colourful incidents in the Victorian Church. Perhaps, Ms HARDING would give me substantiated details of the Archbishop’s alleged advice to a woman, “go to hell, bitch.”
    

    Posted By: Marco Elliott

11. The only certitude Bishop Peter Connors would have would be through the confessional and there upon lies the seal. As a Roman Catholic, that is.

    Posted By: Lydia

12. Marco Elliot: Whichever country you are from, it helps to be familiar with the Victorian Church. If it is addressed to all parishes in Victoria not just Melbourne, it is up to us to decide whether or not there is veracity in the alleged victim's letter.
    You really need to read the article again. Then offer an apology because you are incorrect in all your statements. Also Google about the Archbishop's alleged comment to the woman. Please be very careful to support any comments with references.
    This is a very serious long-term issue that has not gone away. Our people are very distressed by it.
    

    Posted By: Anna Dominguez Smith

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