Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

A sad tale of irresponsible journalism and a cowardly church

By Peter Sellick - posted Friday, 20 September 2019


To add insult to injury, O'Shea wrote a piece for the West (Sept 18th) informing us that "Priest pulls pin on top job." He sticks to his story that "Boy Seamen" is an off-colour joke by Nicholas even though I have written to the editor informing him of the intended slur and of information feely available on the web. This is corrupt journalism and O'Shea should be sacked for deliberately ignoring the truth for his and the paper's own ends. This is how civilizations decline. It will be now very hard to for us to attract a person to take up the role of dean because that person will know that the West will use all of its dirty tricks to bring down another tall poppy.

The other side of this story is that of the church. Since the exposure of sexual abuse in many institutions that deal with children, it is entirely reasonable to demand transparency and the duty to report. I wonder whether the church is so nervous about being caught out in this regard as to be jumping at shadows and unable to defend itself. Or, has the church built a bureaucracy that blindly follows up on all complaints, no matter what their veracity, thinking that if the left-hand does not know what the right-hand is doing it will be saved from bias?

However, there is in the statutes of the Professional Standards Ordinance a provision that allows for complaints to be dismissed: "The PSC may dismiss certain complaints if: (e) the PSC is of the opinion that the complaint is false, vexatious, misconceived, frivolous or lacking in substance" In the case of the new Dean, it should have been clear at the very first that the complaint had no basis. It could have been dismissed with five minutes investigation on the web and exposed for what it was; a deliberate and baseless smear. The question arises as to why the complaint was not quickly hosed down so that the prospective Dean felt no pressure to resign his acceptance?

Advertisement

Of course, the church is embarrassed about child sexual abuse perpetrated by its clergy and we repent about turning a blind eye. However, there is nothing intrinsic about the church that enabled it. We, as well as other organizations that deal with children, were preyed upon but duplicitous men who were skilled at covering their tracks. The church has gone to great lengths to safeguard the children in its care, but we cannot give a guarantee that it will never happen again because of the cunning nature of the abusers. Having said that, the church should not tremble at any manufactured whiff of sexual abuse but robustly stand up for the truth and protect its members and clergy from slander. If we do not do this we will remain an easy target that is expected to lay down and take it all because it is thought we have a guilty conscience.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

10 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Peter Sellick an Anglican deacon working in Perth with a background in the biological sciences.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Peter Sellick

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Peter Sellick
Article Tools
Comment 10 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy