The Towards Healing (TH) policy that has governed the handling of allegations of abuse against Church personnel in almost all of the Church in Australia since 1996 has been updated.
Approved by both the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) and the leaders of all Religious orders and institutes in this country, the policy was updated in 2000 and again in January this year.
The policy, downloadable from the ACBC website, contains both the philosophical basis of the Church’s attitude and handling of allegations of abuse and the formal measures to be enacted by dioceses when allegations are made.
Professor Patrick Parkinson, Dean of Law at the University of Sydney and a specialist in family law and child protection, ran a review of TH in 2000 and 2009, taking submissions from a wide range of people such as victims of abuse, advocates groups for victims, local Professional Standards officers, counsellors, lawyers and other practitioners who deal with abuse and Church authorities.
The Revised text reaffirms the principles of TH, clarifies the application of the TH procedures and seeks to simplify some of those.
All principles adopted in 1996 were reaffirmed in 2000 and have again been reaffirmed in the latest update.
In some cases, definitions have been enlarged. For example, in the 1996 version, physical and emotional abuse were not dealt with, but were in the 2000 review; in the latest update there has been further explanation of things like physical and emotional cruelty and inappropriate care in institutions such as orphanages.
Also among the features of the updated version is a 1800 number that can be called by anyone who wants to raise an allegation of abuse by Church personnel.
The Professional Standards Resources Office, Perth’s Archdiocesan organisation that is the first point of contact for anyone wanting to claim abuse, is contactable on the same number.
Towards Healing also sets out the process for making complaints, which can be prepared by the person alleging abuse or with the assistance of Mr Messer.
Mr Messer told The Record in a telephone interview that allegations cannot be of a second-hand or third-party nature but must be made by the individual claiming that they were abused.
The complaint is then forwarded to the relevant authority such as the Bishop – if the complaint refers to a diocesan employee or official – or to the superior of a Religious Order or institute if the complaint is against one of their members.
A period of time is then extended to the relevant official to consider the complaint and to respond. Under Towards Healing’s procedures, an investigation can then be launched.
“Usually, some form of basic inquiry will be made,” Mr Messer told The Record.
If the allegation is accepted, the Bishop or superior can then provide assistance in a variety of ways.
Assistance can include the provision of counselling and financial assistance to facilitate counselling and healing.
“We hope that the end result is that people are able to walk away with a sense of healing and reconciliation,” Mr Messer said.
However, if the allegation is disputed, the Towards Healing procedures require investigation by an independent third party, he said.
This is conducted on the basis of the balance of probabilities, as it is sometimes difficult to ascertain precise details, he said.
“We always encourage the relevant authorities to have a facilitated meeting with the victim at which outcomes of the investigation are discussed,” he said.
Mr Messer said that Towards Healing operates across all of Australia with the exception of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, which has its own policy and procedures.
Perth Vicar General Monsignor Brian O’Loughlin told The Record that the aim and implementation of Towards Healing, which he called a “pro-active stance of the Church” – is in direct contrast to secular media and popular reaction, which “simply focuses on apportioning blame and the desire for compensation”.
“But that doesn’t necessarily address what’s happened to the victim – and that’s where Towards Healing really looks at that healing of the victim and possibly in the restoration and treatment of the accused.”
In WA, those wanting further information or wishing to make a complaint of abuse can contact Mr Messer and the Professional Standards office for assistance and advice on 1800 072 390.