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| St Barnabus class photo from 1966 with Robert Waddington, centre, wearing cap (reprinted with permission) |
Today, Friday, 10th May, 2013, The Australian
has published a lead article and two further articles (including a substantial account in the "A Plus" section of the paper) on the evils of child
sexual abuse within the Anglican Church. The fact that the articles concern the alleged abusive behaviour of a leading cleric at different stages in his career make the revelations particularly shocking.
(McKenna, Gearing, O'Neill, 1, 6; Gearing, A. ,6; McKenna, M, Gearing, A. 9)
One of the reported victims was a young student at St Barnabus School, Ravenshoe, during the 1960’s; the other was a choir boy at Manchester Cathedral during the 1980’s. The desperately sad effects of physical and sexual abuse suffered at the hands of Waddington are graphically described by the now 59 year old St Barnabus old boy in a video released by The Australian:
One of the reported victims was a young student at St Barnabus School, Ravenshoe, during the 1960’s; the other was a choir boy at Manchester Cathedral during the 1980’s. The desperately sad effects of physical and sexual abuse suffered at the hands of Waddington are graphically described by the now 59 year old St Barnabus old boy in a video released by The Australian:
From a journalistic
point of view, the significant feature about these articles is that the story is based on a joint investigation by The
Times and The Australian, both of which have published their findings on the same day. Their investigations have revealed that church
officials, including Lord Hope, the former Archbishop of York, failed to report
police allegations made in 1999 by the Queensland victim and those made in 2003
by the Manchester victim. The only explanation for this appalling breach of proper process appears to be that
the church deliberately sought to keep each of the victims ignorant of the
other in order to protect the Church, and Waddington, from a damaging legal enquiry.
Up to this point, most media attention has been directed towards the past transgressions of the Catholic Church but the revelations in these articles seem to indicate a serious culpability on the part of the Anglican Church as well. The revelations that have been made in these particular articles are certainly directed at a matter of great public interest; they are based on exhaustive and intensive investigation by a team of journalists from opposite sides of the world; and they will very probably launch an ongoing process with the path now open for other, probable, victims to come forward and with significant pressure now being placed upon the Church to address the serious issues raised.
There are occasions when the media, by focussing attention on a particular issue of public concern, can do a great deal to force action by society to address the matter in question. This seems to be one of those occasions. It is to be hoped that this investigation, along with the recently established Royal Commission recently launched by the Australian Prime Minister, will help to ensure a much better oversight, and regulation, of the child care provided by Australian (and British) Anglican institutions in the future.
Up to this point, most media attention has been directed towards the past transgressions of the Catholic Church but the revelations in these articles seem to indicate a serious culpability on the part of the Anglican Church as well. The revelations that have been made in these particular articles are certainly directed at a matter of great public interest; they are based on exhaustive and intensive investigation by a team of journalists from opposite sides of the world; and they will very probably launch an ongoing process with the path now open for other, probable, victims to come forward and with significant pressure now being placed upon the Church to address the serious issues raised.
There are occasions when the media, by focussing attention on a particular issue of public concern, can do a great deal to force action by society to address the matter in question. This seems to be one of those occasions. It is to be hoped that this investigation, along with the recently established Royal Commission recently launched by the Australian Prime Minister, will help to ensure a much better oversight, and regulation, of the child care provided by Australian (and British) Anglican institutions in the future.
McKenna, M. Gearing, A. O'Neill, S. "Child sex scandal in two countries rocks church." The Australian 10 May, 2013. pp. 1/6
Gearing, A. "Choirboy haunted by painful memories." The Australian 10 May, 2013. p.6
McKenna, M. Gearing, A. "Church's Wall of Silence." The Australian 10 May, 2013. p.9
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