18 10, May, 2020 Comment Barking up the wrong pulpit Francis Sullivan’s passion is undoubted. His grasp of the real issues facing the church isn’t

positions and compromised es. Francis should talk to the others along the way, creating increasing numbers of people friendly networks and making who are reporting historical Philippa themselves indispensable in spiritual and sexual abuse at Martyr the process. the hands of religious sisters. In 2016 testified Creating a lay-led Church rancis Sullivan recently under oath to the Royal Com- will not stop abuses. Sullivan expressed concerns in mission that when he became should also talk to the increas- the US National Catho- of , he ing numbers of lay people who lic Reporter that fallout was handed a mess of clergy have been victimised and bul- Ffrom the Pell case would derail sexual abuse cases that had lied - by other lay people - out the Plenary Council. been largely ignored and min- of diocesan and Church agen- I suppose my first concern imised by archdiocesan agen- cy employment in Australia. is that Francis believes the cies and his predecessor Sir I believe Francis is well-in- Plenary Council is important Frank Little. He also testified tentioned. But I think he’s enough to make changes to the that Bishop Ronald Mulkearns taking advice from the wrong Church in Australia. Really it and other senior clergy lied to people – and some of them, I has very little authority, and its him about the Ridsdale case. suspect, have enabled abusers report has to go to for fi- This is even before we al- in the past. nal ratification. The suggestion low for the obvious adminis- They’re using a classic ‘look that it could be derailed by an trative bungling and incom- over there’ tactic that has dis- unrelated High Court decision petence in the case of John tracted him completely from seems over-dramatic. Ellis, a complainant against the the real epicentre of clergy Much more interesting is Archdiocese of Sydney, whose sexual abuse - which he never that it’s currently rumoured Francis Sullivan attends a seminar on safeguarding children in Rome in 2017. PHOTO: CNS/PAUL HARING case made up much of Pell’s mentions. that the Plenary Council is cross-examination at the Royal These largely elderly people costing the Church in Australia out there who believe George It’s a shame that someone like Francis Commission in 2014. are still hoping that the tired millions of dollars. Pell is in cahoots with unseen, has chosen to use his position to cast This is the kind of issue and enfeebled Church of their I’m surprised that Fran- immeasurably wealthy forc- Francis should now be shout- imagination – amorphous spir- cis hasn’t demanded instead es who got him acquitted by doubt on an important legal decision for ing about from the rooftops. ituality, women priests, and to- that the Plenary Council’s full underhand means - everyone all Australians, not just for the Church How many other well-meaning tal sexual autonomy - will sud- financials be published and from Rupert Murdoch to the bishops have been hamstrung denly blossom into being. asked why this largely cosmet- lizard people. and George Pell ... he’s trying to help, by people in their own offices They aren’t coping well with ic exercise is absorbing money It’s surprising to find Francis but this isn’t helping.” who were personally compro- the realities of their choic- that could be used to compen- on the margins of this eccentric mised, or who were covering es: self-induced demographic sate clergy abuse survivors. fringe, especially as he added up for their mates? winter, dying parishes, and the My second concern is that in his interview that “I wor- that a small percentage of cler- cis missed a golden oppor- So I’m disappointed with exodus of the few remaining Francis said he thought Car- ry that the type of issues that gy abuse cases involve un- tunity to address some very Francis’s response, but not sur- practising Catholics under 40 dinal Pell’s acquittal on all the church needs to be able provable and sometimes false serious issues relating to the prised, because it’s been con- to traditions that the Boomers charges was “opportunistic for to demonstrate that they are allegations. The website bish- clergy abuse crisis in Austra- sistent with what I’ve seen of discarded. forces who always want to use relevant and they are contem- op-accountability.org tracks lia. The epicentre of Catholic his agenda for Church reform. It’s a shame that someone the imagery of religion as a bul- porary on, aren’t going to get the rate of unproveable alle- clergy sexual abuse has been On 27 February this year, for like Francis has chosen to use wark for their own personal [brought] up now.” gations at around 18 per cent, pinpointed by several indepen- example, Francis was keynote his position to cast doubt on an ideologies.” The High Court overturned and false allegations at around dent large-scale studies. speaker at the Catholic Social important legal decision that It’s difficult to trace Francis’s an unsafe conviction which 1.5 per cent. It consists of predato- Services national conference in has implications for all Austra- conceptual leap from a unan- set a precedent for abandon- I believe Pell’s accuser was ry ephebophilic homosexual Melbourne. lians, not just for the Church imous decision made by the ing the presumption of inno- abused, and possibly even by clergy, often repeat offenders, He called for ‘power-shar- and George Pell. High Court of Australia (not a cence and disregarding the ev- a priest, but not by George Pell who were appointed and then ing’ between clergy and , I know he’s trying to help, very religious organisation) to idence of multiple witnesses. in St Patrick’s Cathedral. Ac- protected by weak or person- women in Church governance, but this isn’t helping. a conspiracy against the rather It’s hard to see any relationship cepting this should strengthen ally compromised superi- and ‘democratising’ Church smaller potatoes of the Plenary between this and whether the our confidence in the legal sys- ors in chanceries, seminaries, administration so that local Dr Philippa Martyr is a Perth- Council. Church is relevant and con- tem to handle historical sexual schools, and parishes. communities could oversee based historian, lecturer and I read a lot of weird Face- temporary, but clearly some abuse claims without convict- It’s been painfully easy to ministries for local needs. researcher. She can be con- book pages, and I also read the relationship exists for Francis. ing innocent people. trace, over and over, preda- Putting women in Church tacted at: Philippa.martyr@ comments. There are people Yet he must surely be aware It’s a real shame that Fran- tor clerics who rose to senior governance will not stop abus- gmail.com Our teachers deserve rockstar status

lenges at our global village. has approached. I have been shine in providing students Appropriately managing ma- astounded by the brilliance and families practical and Frank jor societal concerns such of colleagues in all schools, workable methods for learn- as deaths, illness, economic which has been demonstrated ing to occur on campus. Chiment coma, fear and anxiety is not by their ingenuity, collabora- Teaching is a vocation. You an easy endeavour in our cur- tion and sense of care to each will always find teachers sup- he emergence of rent climate. other and their students. porting students to be the best COVID-19 has rattled We are being challenged by Teachers have adapted, version of themselves. society’s cage by cre- a vast array of leaders to adapt innovated and transformed The COVID-19 pandem- ating looming uncer- to new models and routines learning, so that students ic has highlighted the tre- Ttainty and the need to adapt in relation to many things we have meaningful learning ex- mendous passion and work to new routines and systems. normally do in our lives. In periences. Maintaining right of teachers during this most Very few could have imag- essence, this nudges us to re- relationships is always an im- challenging time. ined that the tapestry of our formulate our definition of portant ingredient in learning As such, it is only fair that normal life – work, faith, fam- work and our life priorities. and teaching, even if learning they deserve Rockstar status ily, school, leisure, shopping, In the school context, is done differently. in the eyes of the community travel and so much more – has teachers and support staff Effective by Week 3 of Term at large. changed significantly. have worked tirelessly to 2, schools will be welcoming It is clear that the corona- provide continuity in facil- back more students in a stag- Frank Chiment is the Prin- virus has thrown significant itating quality learning and gered process. Again, school cipal Leader at Patrician Teachers have adapted, innovated and transformed learning, so but not insurmountable chal- teaching as home learning leaders and teachers will Brothers’ College, Blacktown that students have meaningful learning experiences.

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