After prominent news reports last week about his role leading prayers at the funeral of convicted sex offender Robert Bropho, Perth’s Archbishop Barry Hickey spelled out the reasons he agreed to conduct the service.
Prior to Mr Bropho’s burial on Friday, 11 November, Archbishop Hickey explained in a statement that his participation was in a private capacity as a friend of the family and should not be interpreted as tolerance of Mr Bropho’s crimes.
“There is some confusion about why I am doing the funeral of Robert Bropho,” he said.
“It is nothing to do with my office as archbishop nor does it mean I approve of his serious crimes. I am doing so as a friend of the family who know me simply as ‘Father Hickey’.
“Since the family was evicted from the Lockridge Camp I have come to know many members of the Bropho family, especially the homeless ones to whom I offered shelter on my verandah over a period of seven years.
“I have already conducted four funerals of members of the Bropho family. They asked me to do Robert’s as well. As a kindness to his daughter and her family, I will say prayers at his graveside. There will be no Church service.”
Media critics included popular radio talkback host Howard Sattler, who said Archbishop Hickey’s involvement legitimised Bropho.
While it is not known if Bropho was baptised Catholic, Canon Law states that all the baptised faithful are entitled to Christian burial.
Mr Bropho, 81, died in jail while serving a six-year sentence for convictions for rape and sexual abuse of Aboriginal girls as young as 11; one of his victims, a member of his family, committed suicide at the age of 16. Christian burial ceremonies and rites have been largely unchanged over two millennia and are based on the Church’s belief in the resurrection of the body.
In rare instances, Canon Law forbids Christian burial of “manifest sinners” if they have not given some sign of repentance before death.
Where there is doubt about the matter the judgement is the prerogative of the local ordinary.