Sex abuse victim rejects apologies

A Christchurch man who received a secret $30,000 payout from a Catholic religious order after alleging sexual abuse has spurned an apology from church leaders.

"The damage is done," said the man, who asked to be called Patrick.

In response to growing revelations of sex offences by clergy, an open letter from Catholic bishops was read and distributed at Masses nationwide yesterday.

Emerging allegations against priests and brothers had aroused "a deep sense of sadness and betrayal", the letter said. It acknowledged that some complaints had been mishandled.

"To those who are victims of abuse, and to their families, we express our deepest regret and most sincere apology," it read.

But Patrick said these were hollow words and church leaders had been too slow to act.

"It's not only me - it's affected so many people.

"A lot of priests and a lot of brothers knew what was going on but they kept quiet about it - and that's wrong."

Patrick, now 51, was sent to Marylands, a Christchurch residential school for slow learners, in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The school was run by the St John of God order, and it was there, in an upstairs room, that a Catholic brother allegedly forced him to perform oral sex and other indecencies.

Brother William Lebler, now in his 80s and living in Australia, has denied the allegations.

When Patrick came forward as an adult with the abuse allegations, St John of God responded by offering him $30,000 three years ago on condition he keep quiet about his claims.

The apology from the pulpit came amid revelations in the Weekend Herald that a Marist priest who taught music at St Patrick's College, Silverstream, in the 1980s allegedly abused four students at the school before he was removed.

Father Alan Woodcock was appointed to St Patrick's in 1982, despite having already been convicted of a sex offence in 1979 involving a man in Christchurch.

He received a suspended sentence.

After his conviction, the Marist order sent him to a psychologist in Wellington.

At the same time he studied music at Victoria University.

He joined the music department at St Patrick's in 1982. In the course of that year, three sixth-form boys alleged that he fondled them.

Despite their claims, Father Woodcock was allowed to stay teaching until the end of the year. He is also alleged to have abused another St Pat's student, who was 15.

Father Woodcock was then moved to Palmerston North, although not in a teaching role.

After other complaints, he was moved several times before being barred from practising in the ministry in 1987.

He eventually ended up in Ireland, and is now laicised.

Father Denis O'Hagan, provincial of the Society of Mary, said yesterday that a number of people had been hurt by Father Woodcock.

While some had come forward to the police and to church organisations, the Society of Mary was willing to help any who had not yet done so.

"People should go to the police if they have additional information. If they require assistance because of abuse by Mr Woodcock or any member of the order, then they can come to us.

"We have set up a free helpline that they can call - 0800 SMHELP (0800 764-357)."

Father O'Hagan added: "It is impossible to undo the hurt that has happened, but healing can begin when professional help is given."

- NZPA

The text of the letter from Catholic bishops

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

The deepening realisation of the number of cases of sexual abuse perpetuated by priests or religious is a cause of grief and shame to all of us. The betrayal of trust and the harm that has been done, especially to the young and the vulnerable, fills us, your bishops, with a deep sense of sadness and betrayal. Jesus had exceptionally harsh words for those who offended against the innocence of children.

The overwhelming number of our clergy and religious are people of integrity whose dedicated and generous service to God and the Church is beyond question. They are a blessing to all of us. Together with the laity, they are suffering in spirit because of the same sense of betrayal.

The past we cannot change. However, with hindsight we deplore past mistakes, especially those that were made by ourselves or by our predecessors in handling complaints of sexual abuse.

To those who are victims of abuse, and to their families, we express our deepest regret and most sincere apology. We pledge our commitment to assist the healing of those who have been abused. This is the focus of all the procedures we have put in place for dealing with allegations of sexual abuse.

These procedures are contained in a document called A Path to Healing. This was published in 1998 and revised last year.

It calls for a prompt response and assistance to complainants, and provides protection and safety for the community from further offending.

We respect the wishes of any complainant who asks for complete confidentiality, just as we will give assistance to those who might wish to take their complaint to the police.

A Path to Healing can be viewed on our website or obtained from your diocesan office.

As we give you an assurance of our commitment to confront this problem with openness and transparency, we ask for your support and your prayers. We know that evil can be overcome, for St Paul assures us, "Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more." (Romans 5:20)

Let us pray for all whose lives have been blighted by sexual abuse. Their healing is our priority.

And let us not forget to pray for those who have offended, that they may repent and be made whole again in the grace of Christ.