Bishop Greg O’Kelly says Pell decision effects ‘all sectors of society’
The rejection of George Pell’s appeal has ramifications across South Australia — from abuse survivors to charities and parents at the school gate.
Cardinal George Pell’s downfall has been so emotional for so many because, as the world’s most senior Catholic to be convicted of child sex offences, his case has become emblematic of Australia’s long history of institutional abuse.
First and foremost are victims and their families, reliving their personal nightmares each time the case hits the headlines, as it did again this week when Pell’s Victorian Supreme Court appeal of his conviction for molesting two choir boys in the 1990s was quashed.
In South Australia the rawness is exacerbated because it comes so soon after former Adelaide archbishop Philip Wilson had his conviction for concealing child sex abuse overturned.
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It’s there in the words of the state’s most prominent sex abuse victims, the brothers who fought for years to bring serial paedophile Vivian Deboo to justice.
“Angry that Catholic Church statements focus on #CardinalPell & his legal rights to further appeal. No apology. No remorse. No mention of his victims. No denouncing the evil acts of one of their own top dogs. Pell is guilty in the eyes of the courts, & god,” they tweeted on Wednesday.
The Church’s initial Vatican, national and Adelaide archdiocesan reactions to the Victorian court’s appeal decision were constrained by the fact there may be a High Court appeal to come, but did acknowledge the effects on all abuse survivors.
The decision has widespread ramifications as it divides Catholic communities and filters down through their parishes, schools and charities.
In a further statement to The Advertiser sent on Thursday, acting head of the Adelaide Archdiocese Bishop Greg O’Kelly said it “has an impact across all sectors of our society”.
“For some, the case and its playing out over two trials and an appeal has caused the most painful recollections to recur, memories of pain, the insult of degradation welling up again as the sufferings of institutional and clerical abuse are revived,” he said.
“For others who remain convinced of Cardinal Pell’s innocence, there has been distress and dismay. This is a case where there would never have been universal acceptance of the court’s decision, whichever way it went.
“We pray both that victims will be supported and we pray that the Catholic community will continue to take confidence in the knowledge of the reforms that have been initiated to ensure that children and the vulnerable in our care will continue to be safe and protected.”
Federation of Catholic School Parent Communities (SA) president Kylie Ind said parents were divided in their opinions.
“Some are probably hoping (Pell) will rot in jail,” she said.
“Some will be feeling despair, questioning the legal system, their religious faith or both. Many are just sickened and sad that children have been, and continue to be, sexually abused by people they have been told and taught to trust.”
Ms Ind said the Church’s new safeguarding standards were “a necessary and significant step forward”.
“But we know, too, that even best practice policies and procedures cannot guarantee children will be safe from sexual abuse. On top of this, we know that many children are abused within their immediate and extended families, and that the online world has created a huge new predator playground.
“As parents, we tell our children to be wary of strangers and to tell us if they don’t feel safe or something is worrying them. But the perpetual question is ‘What more can we do?’”
Ms Ind said education and communication were critical.
“Parents need to learn about the signals and symptoms that potentially point to sexual abuse, and to also skill their children to be strong in saying ‘no’ when they feel uneasy about what is happening or being suggested,” she said.
“Talking with children calmly about all sorts of issues and experiences on a regular basis can also help when difficult conversations need to be had. Teenagers are more likely to open up if they know we aren’t going to bombard them with our fears or blast them for something they’ve done.”
The Pell headlines are not what South Australia’s Catholic school system needs when it is trying to recover from declining enrolments in recent years. Principals were sent copies of Church statements on Wednesday and it was left to them how to communicate with parents.
Catholic Education SA (CESA) director Neil McGoran said: “I want to reassure parents that child protection is a priority across all Catholic schools and our staff are vigilant in ensuring that children in our care are safe.
“All Catholic schools are mandated child safe environments. All staff and volunteers have current police checks and are trained to protect children and young people. Together with all Department of Education schools, we teach our children age-appropriate strategies to keep themselves safe through South Australia’s Keeping Safe Child Protection Curriculum.”
The Church is highly co-ordinated in its messaging. Centacare and an Adelaide Catholic school both referred The Advertiser back to Catholic Communications director Jenny Brinkworth, who also chairs Catholic Charities.
Asked about the Pell case’s effect on donations, she said: “We are extremely grateful for the generosity of the people in our parishes and our schools which enables Catholic Charities to support nine frontline agencies providing services to the most marginalised in our community.”