EDITOR’S NOTE: An article by well-known Australian journalist Geraldine Willesee appeared in several Australian newspapers over the weekend of 23-24 February 2013 reporting her experience of sexual abuse by the late Fr Brian Harris when she was a 14-year-old student in Perth in the early 1960s.
At the time the below article on Fr Harris was published, The Record was unaware of any allegations of sexual abuse made about Fr Brian Harris, or any other criminal behaviour, and was not made aware of any such allegations by anyone, then or subsequently.
Had we been aware, this report and others like it would not have been written and published.
We have made the decision, for now, to leave this and other articles about Fr Brian Harris on our website, not because we think them an accurate reflection, but for the record and pending further advice from the Archdiocese of Perth. Any articles relating to Fr Harris will carry this editorial advisory note.
In welcoming the Royal Commission into institutional responses to the sexual abuse of children last year, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB described the sexual abuse of minors as “a terrible scourge in our community”.
“It is both a crime and an attack on the innocence and vulnerability of children and young people,” Archbishop Costelloe said last November.
“I reiterate my determination that the Catholic Church in Perth will do everything in its power to work with others to address this most urgent of issues.”
Peter Rosengren
Editor, The Record
23 February, 2013
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
In this Year for Priests, The Record profiles a priest each week. Glynnis Grainger spoke to Fr Brian Harris recently.
A priest who looks a picture of health is a role model for diabetics, having had type 1 diabetes for 40 of his 79 years.
Parish Priest of Our Lady Help of Christians Church, East Victoria Park, for 25 years, Fr Brian Harris received his Papal Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (for the Church and the Pontiff) on 12 November, the day before our interview.
Pope Benedict XVI awarded him the special recognition for his 56 years service to the Church as a priest. Fr Brian was diagnosed as an adult with diabetes and told The Record: “You have to look after it, control it, live with it.”
“Mum’s mother died of it, so it is heavy in the genes – the genetic factor,” Fr Brian said. “I was president of the Diabetes Association of WA.
“Admit your condition and live by its restraints – you cannot just eat anything or drink anything and never forget
your medicine – I have four needles a day.”
A ‘dinky-di’ West Australian, he was 33 when he was ordained on 25 July, 1953, at St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth, by Bishop Launcelot Goody with Archbishop Prendiville in attendance.
He trained for the priesthood at St Charles Seminary, Guildford, from 1944-49, entering at the age of 14, and at St Patrick’s College, Manly, from 1950-53.
After stints at St Mary’s Cathedral, being Chaplain to nurses for six years, with three years at Shenton Park, assistant priest at Kalgoorlie, Osborne Park, South Perth, he became Parish
Priest at Armadale in 1970 for six years.
Then he spent 12 years at St Jerome’s, Spearwood, came to East Victoria Park in 1984 as Parish Priest, and will celebrate his silver anniversary at the parish on 8 December.
“God is very good; the highlight is the people I was given to serve – it was a delight to serve the people of God,” Fr Brian said.
The closeness with other priests as an altar server and the influence of curates of the day, helped him decide on his vocation to the priesthood.
“I lived close to the church and used to go up there every day to St Mary’s, Leederville,” he said.
“We lived in Anzac Road – I was 7, 8, 9 – and the lovely young priests helped me on the way.
“Fr Michael Delahunty and Fr Jim Boylen influenced me – they are dead now. Dr Launcelot John Goody said I was ready for it.”
Fr Brian went to school at St Mary’s Convent of Mercy, Leederville, then CBC, Leederville, before entering the seminary.
He is the eldest and has one brother and three sisters and plenty of nieces and nephews, some of whom he baptised.
Fr Brian said he has officiated at thousands of weddings and baptisms, which he enjoys, with his extroverted nature, wonderful sense of humour and powerful baritone singing voice.