THREAD: Thinking about #StKevins business. About way they & other #Catholic schools handled #Pell. Or same-sex marriage. Or @BishopComensoli re risking jail to avoid reporting hearing of child abuse in confessional. Thinking about all parents/staff/alumni of schools...
who contact me privately to express to express deep dismay. I want to say this to those parents/staff/alumni/students: Only way for likes of these schools, @BishopComensoli & @AnthonyFisherOP to hear all the disquiet you so desperately feel is to make yourselves publicly heard.
I think of bravery of traumatised people who cast their shame (it’s not their shame, though, it’s Church’s shame) aside to speak of what was done to them. To endure unbearable legal proceedings. It would be nice if the people who speak out behind scenes would also show courage.
I understand that’s difficult: your kids are happy at school, it’s hard to stick your head above parapet. But talk to those around you. You’re not alone. Other people you know contact me. The alternative is these people continuing to think they’re right.
& their attitudes are sanctioned by their community. Which, judging from my correspondence, is not true. Your kids matter, so much, but so did the kids who are not around any more, or whose lives were destroyed, or who feel alienated and alone.
Lastly, parish of Mentone is good case in point. Lengths they went to to get Pell’s mate (& abuser of seminarian) John Walshe out & Pell’s portrait removed from school, remarkable. They never gave up. They won. Walshe removed. Banned from ministering in Ireland. It can be done.
