The priest at the centre of the sexual abuse case that has engulfed Sydney's Archbishop Cardinal George Pell has apologised to his victim.
The apology is contained in secret police recordings obtained by ABC's Lateline program.
Father Terence Goodall was recorded by police in 2003 talking to his victim, school teacher Anthony Jones.
Father Goodall admits that the abuse was not consensual.
In one part of the conversation he says his action was "very very wrong" and he concedes that he was taking advantage of another man.
During the recording, Father Goodall apologises to Mr Jones for forcing himself on him.
Father Goodall is also quoted as saying: "I certainly didn't use the word consensual".
The transcript was available to the Church's lawyers more than three years ago, but Cardinal Pell says he was unaware of the transcripts.
"Those statements of Goodall of course put my decision on this particular matter in quite a different light," he said.
Cardinal Pell earlier revealed on the 7.30 Report that he gave an audience to Father Goodall, but did not afford the same opportunity to Mr Jones.
Mr Jones told Lateline he is offended by Cardinal Pell's earlier assertions that the assault was consensual.
"I felt isolated all over again," he said.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/09/2299355.htm?section=justin
Jul 26, 2008
Priest revealed sex assault was non-consensual
Catholic priest found guilty of child sex offences
Victims of a Catholic priest say they are elated that he has been convicted of child sex offences after 30 years.
Seven former students of a boy's school in Engadine in Sydney's south accused Father Paul Evans of rape and sexual assault.
He pleaded not guilty, telling the court he hugged and comforted the boys but did not touch them in a sexual way.
Today, a jury found him guilty of 18 offences.
The abuse took place between 1977 and 1988 when Evans was a boarding school master.
Outside the court, one of his victims said when he told the police about the abuse as a teenager he had been laughed at.
He said he was relieved to be recognised by the legal system after so many years.
Evans is due to be sentenced in September.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/25/2315068.htm
New evidence in church abuse case
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Broadcast: 08/07/2008
Reporter: Connor Duffy
Last night Lateline aired evidence that Catholic Archbishop Cardinal George Pell misrepresented the truth when he responded to a man who complained he'd been abused by a priest. Tonight we reveal new evidence that church investigators - and through them, the Archbishop - were later told by the same priest that he had assaulted another victim: a 16-year-old girl. We also raise a series of new questions, including why George Pell gave weight to the abusive priest's word that his attack on Anthony Jones was, in fact, consensual.
Transcript
TONY JONES, PRESENTER: Last night Lateline revealed the case of Anthony Jones, a former religious education teacher and his evidence that Cardinal George Pell misrepresented the truth when he responded to Mr Jones' complaint of sexual assault by a priest.
Today cardinal George Pell admitted he'd made a mistake when he wrote a letter to Mr Jones falsely telling him his was the only complaint against the priest and that the church investigation said his complaint of sex assault shouldn't be upheld.
Tonight we reveal new documents from the case that show that the church investigators and, through them, the Archbishop were later told by the same priest that he'd assaulted another victim: a 16 year old girl. She has never been identified.
We also raise a series of new questions, including why George Pell gave weight to the abusive priest's word, that his attack on Anthony Jones was in fact consensual.
Conor Duffy and Tim Palmer produced this report.
CONOR DUFFY, REPORTER: Last night Anthony Jones told Lateline how he was sexually assaulted by a Sydney priest, Father Terence Goodall.
Letters and a report published by Lateline show that Archbishop George Pell subsequently misrepresented the findings of the church's own investigation into that attack.
Anthony Jones says Cardinal Pell's actions destroyed the faith that had been the bedrock of his life.
ANTHONY JONES, ABUSE VICTIM: It affected me the same way as Father Goodall sexually assaulting me. Cardinal Pell assaulted me by his words all over again.
CONOR DUFFY: Today Cardinal Pell was forced to put aside last minute preparations for World Youth Day to respond to the serious questions over his handling of the case.
Among them, why he wrote to Anthony Jones saying:
CARDINAL GEORGE PELL (Voiceover): No other complaint of attempted sexual assault has been received against Father Goodall.
CONOR DUFFY: When he knew there had been, and in fact had written to another of Father Goodall's victims accepting his allegation on the same day he wrote to Mr Jones.
All just a poor choice of words according to Cardinal Pell.
CARDINAL GEORGE PELL: The letter to Mr Jones was badly worded and a mistake.
CONOR DUFFY: Cardinal says his description of the type of crime in the letter caused the confusion. When the Anthony Jones matter was investigated, church investigator Howard Murray recommended to Cardinal Pell that the allegations raised by Anthony Jones be sustained.
However when Cardinal Pell wrote to Jones he claimed:
CARDINAL GEORGE PELL (Voiceover): Mr Murray was of the opinion that the complaint of attempted aggravated sexual assault cannot be considered to have been substantiated.
CONOR DUFFY: Today Cardinal Pell said that too was an innocent mistake, not a fabrication.
CARDINAL GEORGE PELL: No that is an overstatement I acknowledge that.
REPORTER: Is it an overstatement or is it just not true and made up?
CARDINAL GEORGE PELL: No because I accepted the basic conclusions of Murray, that the charges were substantiated.
REPORTER: Why did you say then Mr Murray was of the opinion that the complaint of aggravated sexual assault cannot be considered to be substantiated when Murray said nothing of the sort.
CARDINAL GEORGE PELL: Because I'd come to that conclusion after advice and considering the matter and also confirming that all along Goodall insisted that it was consensual, and he confirmed that to me.
REPORTER: But why did you contribute that to Mr Murray...
CARDINAL GEORGE PELL: That was an overstatement. That was an innocent error.
CONOR DUFFY: Today Cardinal Pell acknowledged that Howard Murray sustained all of Anthony Jones' allegations.
Lateline has obtained another letter sent by George Pell to Anthony Jones in May 2003.
In that letter Cardinal Pell once again contradicts the findings of the Murray investigation. He wrote:
CARDINAL GEORGE PELL (Voiceover): What cannot be determined by me, however, is whether it was a matter of sexual assault as you state, or homosexual behaviour between two consenting adults as maintained by Father Goodall. In the end it is a matter of your word against his.
CONOR DUFFY: But the report to George Pell had only given the issue of consent passing mention.
CARDINAL GEORGE PELL (Voiceover): He [Father Goodall] agreed generally with Tony's account of the post-swim events at the presbytery although he maintained the move to the bed whilst both men were naked was more consensual than forced upon Tony.
CONOR DUFFY: Ultimately Father Goodall would admit to the non-consensual nature of the pool incident and plead guilty in the district court to indecent assault.
Cardinal Pell's acceptance of Father Goodall's excuse that the incident was consensual infuriated the victim.
ANTHONY JONES: By saying that it was consensual and that there were no other complaints is an absolute disgrace. And I believe that Cardinal Pell should not be Cardinal Pell.
CONOR DUFFY: That Cardinal Pell erred in giving equal weight to the word of Father Goodall and that of his victim, was made clear subsequently when the church investigator sent the Archbishop a report that was scathing about Father Goodall's character.
It found Father Goodall was a serial offender and an ongoing risk.
HOWARD MURRAY, CHURCH INVESTIGATOR (Voiceover): I was struck by the recurring themes of defensiveness, lack of victim empathy and lack of reasonable insight.
CONOR DUFFY: The report also sketches a career long history of problems involving Goodall. And critically finds he committed another offence against another child. In this case a 16 year old girl.
HOWARD MURRAY (Voiceover): I am aware that he has offended against a 10/11 year old male, a 16 year old female, and that he has made admissions to fondling a young adult male without his consent.
Also he has admitted to the following incidents: namely, propositioning two male seminary students when he was attached to the manly theological faculty, inviting a group of alter boys to strip naked whilst swimming, inviting an adult male to stay over at his parish presbytery, and of having a consensual sexual experience with an adult male.
PAUL COLLINS, AUTHOR AND FORMER PRIEST: To me there's a kind of lurking question here, the abuse of the altar boy for instance that he mentions in his letter.
I mean did he report that to the police? This is kind of, this is the essence of the story it seems to me.
PROFESSOR MARK FINDLAY, SYDNEY UNIVERSITY: Well I think it reveals that this church, like other churches, start off from a position which is how can we minimise fire damage.
And perhaps as other churches have found, and the Catholic Church has found, the real consideration is how do we restore public confidence and how do we put forward a positive approach to considerations that relate to sexual abuse
CONOR DUFFY: Late tonight the church told Lateline that it had informed police about the assault on the 11 year old altar boy.
And the church said it only became aware of the offence against the 16 year old girl when father Goodall admitted to it in June 2003.
The church says the priest did not disclose the name of the girl, she's never been identified.
So far George Pell says he hasn't informed the Vatican of the controversy. Paul Collins says he won't have to.
PAUL COLLINS: I'm sure they would be aware of what's happening and I'm sure they would be looking at it carefully.
CONOR DUFFY: Cardinal Pell today apologised to Anthony Jones and suggested that should be the end of the matter.
REPORTER: Not a very good opener for the World Youth Day is it?
CARDINAL GEORGE PELL: Please God we'll be over this before the World Youth Day.
CONOR DUFFY: That's just seven days away
Conor Duffy, Lateline.
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2008/s2298207.htm
Jul 25, 2008
Man converts home into church to save tax
A Chicago estate agent has sparked a row over the extent of his religious fervour after he converted his home into a church, saving himself $80,000 (£40,000) in taxes.
George Michael said he converted his $3 million home in a Chicago suburb into the Armenian Church of Lake Bluff so his disabled wife and daughter did not have to travel to worship.
Mr Michael told Illinois officials he started his own congregation - reportedly numbering a few close friends and family - a year ago after receiving a pastor's degree from a religious internet site.
He placed a cross on the side of his lakeside mansion home which neighbours accepted as a sign of his Christian devotion.
However, respect has turned to suspicion after it emerged that the property's church status qualified him for a hefty saving on his annual property tax bill.
Local officials in Lake Bluff are appealing the state's granting of church status.
"It's a honkin' house," said Teresia Yakes, a planning officer who assessed the property, which is surrounded by "private property" and "no trespassing" signs.
State tax authorities confirmed that they never visited on a Sunday to check if services were being held.
Mr Michael presented them with a copy of his clergy licence from the Church of Spiritual Humanism, photos of a church altar, the church's affidavit of organisation from January 2007, church bylaws and copies of weekly church bulletins dating to December.
The Diocese of the Armenian Church of America in New York said it had no record that the Armenian Church of Lake Bluff exists or that it has been consecrated as a house of worship.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2309912/Man-converts-home-into-church-to-save-tax.html
The Pope's apology
The Pope's apology
he Pope's apology to sexual abuse victims will galvanise the Catholic Church in Australia to improve the way it deals with such evil, a bishop says.
The Pope apologised on Saturday for the sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy in Australia, saying he was ''deeply sorry'' for the pain and suffering victims had endured.
''These misdeeds, which constitute so grave a betrayal of trust, deserve unequivocal condemnation,'' the pontiff told a congregation of 3400 people, including Sydney Archbishop Cardinal George Pell, bishops, seminarians, and religious and school groups.
''Those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice. It is an urgent priority to promote a safer and more wholesome environment, especially for young people.''
World Youth Day coordinator Bishop Anthony Fisher said yesterday he joined with the general community in welcoming the pontiff's ''heartfelt'' words.
''That call to bring justice against the perpetrators and to bring healing, reconciliation and justice to the victims and to ensure prevention of this sort of thing in the future, to the extent that anyone can, that call to us is a challenge to the Church,'' he said.
''We're certainly committed to the process. This added impetus the Holy Father gives us means we will certainly as a Church in Australia be looking to how we can do this better in the future.''
Bishop Fisher said he did not know if the Pope would have time in a packed schedule to meet victims before he was due to leave this morning. ''Even if he did meet a few victims like he did in the United States, there's still hundreds more out there,'' he said. ''I think what he said is for all of them and I very much hope people will hear that message with open ears.
''The Holy Father wants every victim to know that Christ's loving compassionate heart is there for them and the Church is there for them, deeply ashamed of where it's hurt them and wanting them back.'' Bishop Fisher also apologised for comments he made when he faced questions about the Catholic Church's handling of Melbourne sisters repeatedly raped by a priest.
He came under fire for saying some people were ''dwelling crankily'' on old wounds, but said yesterday his remarks were misconstrued. ''I was commenting then on a few people in the media who I thought, and the word I used, I think, was 'cranky', in their reporting on the issue of sexual abuse and World Youth Day,'' he said.
''I certainly wasn't intending in any way to make remarks about the victims themselves. Sexual abuse has absolutely no place in the life of the Church. If anything I've said or anyone else has said has exacerbated that situation or hurt them in any way all I can offer again is my deepest apology.''
Bishop Fisher said the Church recognised many people suffered for years after child abuse.
''It's not my place or anyone else's to tell them to stop grieving or to stop hurting: our job is to help them heal and that's what I want to do and that's what the Church wants to do.'' AAP
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/sex-abuse-apology-to-galvanise-church/1060875.aspx
Christian sect leader indicted for sex abuse charges
Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs and four of his followers have been indicted by a Texas grand jury on charges of sexual assault of a child after state officials raided a polygamist ranch near Eldorado in April.
Attorney General Greg Abbott said the five men have been formally accused of one count of sexually assaulting girls under 17. One of them also faces an additional charge of bigamy.
Abbott said a sixth member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is charged with three counts of failure to report child abuse.
Jeffs, 52, the controversial spiritual leader and self-proclaimed prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has already been sentenced in a Utah court to 10 years to life in prison as an accomplice to rape for forcing a 14-year-old girl to marry her 19-year-old first cousin. He is in jail in Arizona awaiting trial on similar charges for arranged marriages there.
According to the indictment he is now accused of assaulting a girl in Texas in January 2005.
"Our investigation in this matter is not concluded," said Abbott, whose office is acting as the special prosecutor in the case.
The identities of Jeffs' followers who were also indicted were not released.
"There will be an aggressive effort to apprehend them," Abbott said when asked whether he was concerned the men might have fled Texas.
Willie Jessop, a church member and spokesman, said members would face the accusations.
"We're actually quite shocked. As soon as we know who they're looking for, we'll try to face it," he said. "We believe in our innocence."
More than 400 child members of the polygamist sect were taken into custody by state officials in April, but were later returned to their families after a Texas judge in June lifted the custody order.
Under Texas law, a girl younger than 17 cannot generally consent to sex with an adult. Bigamy is also illegal in Texas, and although plural marriages were not licensed by the state, the law contains a provision outlawing the act of "purporting to marry" more than one person.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/23/usa.internationalcrime
