THE STONES CRY OUT: REPORT ON THE MACSAS SURVEY 2010

To read the MACSAS report, please see

http://www.macsas.org.uk/PDFs/News/macsas_survey2010/MACSAS_SurveyReportMay2011.pdf

There is specific reference to Salford on page P86

Amongst a wealth of information and very thorough and careful analysis, the MACSAS report concludes generally that

"... there has yet to be any radical change to the denial and minimisation of child sexual abuse seen within the Catholic Church over the past two decades." (P 79, paragraph 2.1.2.74)

To 'Anonymous' commenting on 'Getting a life?'

I have read your comments with great interest but noted the request not to publish them on the blog. If you wish to contact me directlyto discuss what could be published and/or you wish to identify yourself to me, in confidence, you can do so by e-mailing me at philipgilligan@lineone.net (I suspect that you have hit the nail on the head!)

Thanks
Philip

Getting a life?

I was fascinated by M. Hoyle’s letter suggesting that he or she knows all that needs to be known about Bishop Terence Brain’s failure to ensure that Father Thomas Doherty was laicised (removed from the clerical state) following his conviction in 1998 for five offences of indecency against a boy under 16 years (‘Time to get a life’, 1 June 2011).

Unfortunately, M. Hoyle presents a rather selective and somewhat misinformed account of the relevant facts and would be well advised to revisit the contemporary news reports and other information that is readily available about these matters at http://caads.blogspot.com/ and elsewhere.

M. Hoyle writes that “the priest at Todmorden was removed from the parish as soon as Bishop Brain was made aware of the allegations against him.” However, M. Hoyle does not mention other pertinent facts. For example, the Todmorden News reported on 27 February 1998 that “Priests saw Father Doherty's obscene photographs of a young boy months before telling the police.” and that “Three months passed before police were informed after the alarm was raised …” The Todmorden News noted “a strong feeling amongst the Catholic community that many questions remain unanswered” and reported that Father Hickford who had found the original evidence “immediately went to his superior, Dean Leo Heakin of St John the Baptist Church, Burnley, … But Dean Heakin did nothing.” (see http://caads.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2009-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=2 ).

M. Hoyle claims that “the priest died before Bishop Brain could finish the job and laicise him.” M. Hoyle does not comment on the admission by the Chair of the Salford Safeguarding Commission, Michael Devlin, at a meeting in September 2010 that Bishop Brain had not pursued Doherty’s laicisation, despite Doherty giving him authority to do so (see http://www.mediafire.com/?se3udyzz3jql7gr for an audio-recording of the meeting. The section concerning Doherty’s case is approx. four minutes long and starts approx. 33 minutes into the recording). Nor does M. Hoyle explain why during the nine years following his promise, in November 2001, to implement the recommendations of the Nolan Report, Bishop Brain did not send the relevant request to the Vatican or justify his decision not to do so.

M. Hoyle says “we all know”, but does not explain how we are supposed know the things he or she asserts. When has Bishop Brain or those he commissions ever provided full and accurate information to the people of the Diocese of Salford about Father Doherty? When, until the facts leaked out in September 2010 (see http://www.todmordennews.co.uk/news/convicted_priest_was_never_laicised_1_1997754 ) had Bishop Brain or those he commissions ever said anything to correct the widespread and mistaken impression that Doherty had been laicised?

Perhaps, Bishop Brain responds when M. Hoyle asks him questions. However, Bishop Brain has never responded to any of the questions I have asked him, in good faith and as a concerned parishioner and parent. I wrote to Bishop Brain, in October 2008, as soon as I became doubtful about whether Doherty had been laicised or whether he had, in fact, remained - according to the Church - ‘alter Christus’ (another Christ). Several letters later and, despite advice from the papal nuncio and Archbishop (now Cardinal) Vincent Nicholls that this was a matter for my diocesan bishop, I have yet to receive any acknowledgement of my letters, let alone any answers, from Bishop Brain.

M. Hoyle concludes by saying “We all know what happened.” I can only respond by saying ‘Yes, we do all know what happened and continues to happen. In November 2001, Bishop Brain, along with all the Catholic bishops of England and Wales, told us all that “If a bishop, priest or deacon is convicted of a criminal offence against children and is sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more, then it would normally be right to initiate the process of laicisation. Failure to do so would need to be justified.” (see http://www.bishop-accountability.org/resources/resource-files/reports/NolanReport.pdf 3.5.32, p44). However, this did not happen in the case of Doherty and has continued not to happen in other cases of Salford diocesan priests, such as William Green (see http://www.wigantoday.net/news/paedo_priest_anger_1_2866892 ), convicted of abusing children.’ I will continue to ask 'why?' I suggest that M. Hoyle should do the same.

Philip Gilligan

Something to see here?

Thankfully, I enjoy a rather busy life, and, as a result, I had been blissfully unaware of David Hawkins' letter ('Nothing to see here', 21 May 2011), until a friend kindly alerted me to it.

I have now found time to read David's letter and did so with increasing bewilderment. David suggests that I should consider apologising to the parishioners of St Joseph's in Todmorden, but gives no explanation as to why he thinks I should do so. David refers to my own earlier letter ('Appeal for defrocking', 18 May 2011), but, as can be seen by anyone who cares to access the copy available at http://caads.blogspot.com/, this letter contained no reference whatsoever to the parishioners of St Joseph's and, certainly no criticism of them. Indeed, I am very happy to say that I have always had respect for the people of my neighbouring parish and most especially for those who were active in persuading the Diocese of Salford to eventually act on parishioners' concerns about Father Thomas Doherty in 1997.

My letter did, however, criticise Bishop Terence Brain of Salford for his failure, for more than a decade, to initiate the process of laicisation in Doherty's case, despite his promise to follow the recommendations of the Nolan Report (2001) and despite Doherty having been sentenced to six years imprisonment for offences against a child. My letter also referred to the fact that Bishop Brain's failure to take the necessary action had only come to light in September 2010.

If any apology is required, it surely needs to come from Bishop Brain; firstly for failing to act on his and his fellow bishops' well publicised claim that they would normally initiate the process of laicisation in the case of priests convicted of a criminal offence against children and sentenced to 12 months or more imprisonment and, secondly, for allowing parishioners throughout the Diocese of Salford to think that Doherty had been laicised, when, in fact, the Church had allowed him to retain his canonical status as a priest and, therefore, to remain, according to its teachings, 'alter Christus' (another Christ).

Philip Gilligan

'Appeal for defrocking' - Rochdale Observer 18 May 2011

Will Salford follow Melbourne's example?

Letter sent to the press 9 May 2011

I was delighted to see that the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne has announced that it will be acting to laicise every one of its priests convicted of sexual offences against children (see http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/church-acts-to-defrock-all-paedophile-priests-20110508-1eebo.html#ixzz1LsOtJaBr ).

However, our local situation, here in the Diocese of Salford, remains very different.

Only a few months ago we discovered that, because Bishop Brain had never taken the action necessary to ensure his laicisation, Father Thomas Doherty, the former parish priest of St. Joseph’s Todmorden had remained a priest until his death in September 2010, despite having been convicted, in 1998, of five offences of indecency against a boy under 16 (see http://www.todmordennews.co.uk/news/convicted_priest_was_never_laicised_1_1997754 ), while the people of the Diocese are still waiting for the laicisation of Father William Green, the former parish priest of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Wigan, almost three years after he was convicted of 26 offences of indecent assault in 2008 (see http://www.wigantoday.net/news/paedo_priest_anger_1_2866892 ).

When can Catholics in the Diocese of Salford expect the same decisive action as is, now, promised in Australia? When can they expect Bishop Brain to act on the commitment he made in November 2001 to implement the recommendations of the Nolan Report?

Philip Gilligan

Archdiocese of Melbourne acts to laicise every priest convicted of sexual offences against children.

From left: Wilfred Baker, Terry Pidoto, Michael Glennon and Paul Pavlou.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/church-acts-to-defrock-all-paedophile-priests-20110508-1eebo.html#ixzz1LsQmf622

See http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/church-acts-to-defrock-all-paedophile-priests-20110508-1eebo.html

THE Catholic archdiocese of Melbourne is defrocking every priest convicted of sexual offences against children.

Fourteen Melbourne priests have been convicted in criminal courts of offences against children. Three are dead. Of the others, four have already been defrocked and applications against another five are before the Vatican. Two more cases are being prepared for submission later this year.

Another priest, not convicted in court, has already been defrocked after being judged guilty of abuse by the church's independent commissioner.

The archdiocese has moved quickly in the past year. In April 2010 a spokesman said that despite the more than 300 allegations of abuse substantiated by the independent commissioner, only one priest had been defrocked.

The church has been criticised for not acting to remove paedophile priests, but Melbourne's Vicar-General, Bishop Les Tomlinson, said it was only recently that changes to canon law allowed defrocking without their consent and without a trial.

He said defrocking might be important in helping victims find closure, but any priest found to have offended against a child already had their faculties to act as priest removed.

Helen Last of advocacy group In Good Faith said the church's actions opened the way for consultation about changes needed to the Melbourne system for dealing with complaints.

''There are a lot more priests who should be laicised [returned to lay status] through complaints to the independent commissioner's office as well,'' she said.

Bishop Tomlinson said the church could not identify the priests concerned, but last month he confirmed that former Healesville priest Paul Pavlou - convicted of an indecent act with a 14-year-old boy and of possessing child pornography - had been defrocked.

Barry Whelan, a serial abuser, but not of children, was also removed this year, but at his own request, reportedly to marry.

The priest removed before 2010 was rapist and serial abuser Michael Glennon, jailed in 1978, 1991 and 2003 for a multitude of offences.

The Broken Rites website identifies several Melbourne priests convicted in criminal courts. They include:

■ Wilfred Baker, jailed for four years in 1999 on 16 counts of indecent assault and one of gross indecency against eight boys.

■ David Daniel, jailed for six years in 2000 on 16 counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual penetration of a 16-year-old.

■ John Haines, jailed for four years and three months in 2008 on six counts of indecent assault and possessing child pornography.

■ Terence Merivale, jailed for six months in 2000 for indecently assaulting three young girls.

■ Terry Pidoto, jailed for seven years and three months in 2007 for rape and other offences against four boys.

■ Victor Rubeo, given a 12-month good behaviour bond in 1996 for indecent assaults against two boys.

Bishop Tomlinson said applications take six months to a year to be completed at the Vatican, and are similar to a prosecution brief in a criminal trial.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/church-acts-to-defrock-all-paedophile-priests-20110508-1eebo.html#ixzz1LsOtJaBr