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The Ryan Report, child abuse and matters closer to home

By Shane Wood - posted Friday, 26 June 2009


It was assumed that a busy life filled with a routine of prayer, study, sport and work would suffice to keep us from any “temptation” or sexual thoughts. Most of us were thrown into an all-male milieu at an age when “innocent” heterosexual experimentation is a fact of life. There being no company than other males of a similar age meant that this time of “sorting out” of healthy human relationships was for the most part somewhat haphazard at best and stunted at worst.

None of this is to excuse what has been done to the victims of the abuse. It was criminal and inexcusable. It may, however, help to understand why some of it happened.

Earlier than the times of my own training, professional preparation was often truncated or non-existent. Training, if any, was done “on the job”: many men had only the example of those who taught them to rely on and not all of those examples would have been good ones. Those men who were thrown into institutional residential situations were even less prepared for what they had to deal with. Their own lives (both at home and in religious life) were in most cases harsh: they tended to deal with those placed in their care in the way they were dealt with. Combined with a lack of sound psychological understanding and training, there was a fear of self-reflection as somehow being related to sinful self-absorption.

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It is easy to see how such people, put into a religious hothouse, untrained and overworked could become “split” personalities: know well the ideal and keep the external requirements of the Rule, but live privately in a way contrary to it.

Again, this is not to excuse, but rather an attempt to understand. The effort to understand, if it is legitimate, must result in change for the future.

I have a great deal of sympathy for the victims in these cases and favour the provision of whatever is required to assist them in their suffering, grief and in attempting to get their lives as close as possible to some sort of normality - no matter what the cost to the order or diocese concerned.

I think we also need to be reminded of the fact that both accused and victim are often caught up in an adversarial legal system that operates by certain rules. Some rules are detrimental to finding the truth, others detrimental to those who might be, on the balance of probability, innocent. Those who are accused are not required by law to defend themselves by giving evidence, admitting guilt or showing remorse. It is up to the prosecution to prove their case. There is a presumption of “innocent until proven guilty”, at least in theory.

On the other hand, I know of some accused in these cases who have maintained their innocence, but have been advised to plead guilty to avoid a long trial and to receive in the end a lighter sentence, and have done so. It is a flawed system - but the best we have. So there could be many reasons why an accused person, or even one who has been found guilty, might not wish or might not be able to express any sentiments of regret or remorse at the end of what must be a traumatic experience - whether guilty or innocent, victim or accused.

The good done by the many does not undo the evil done by the few; and vice versa. Both are reality. The good experiences of many students do not negate the horrendous experiences of those who were abused. Both are reality for those concerned.

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I say again that I am ashamed of the actions of fellow religious Brothers. I express my deep regret for the hurt done to victims. I look forward to the day when all bishops and religious superiors will agree to psychological testing for their candidates. It is difficult to believe that this is still not universal, even in Australia. I look forward to the day when a healthier more human lifestyle can be provided for priests in particular. In many Dioceses, the falling numbers of priests has led to increased and unreasonable workloads on those who remain, and the expectation that they will continue to work into their 80s. This cannot be healthy - physically, psychologically or spiritually. Attending to these issues in Western countries at least seems to be an urgent, practical and appropriate focus of attention for “The Year of the Priest” rather than having some celebration.

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The views expressed in this article are personal and not necessarily those of the author's order or his employer.



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About the Author

Brother Shane Wood currently lectures on the Broome Campus of the University of Notre Dame Australia.

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