By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A HOLY Family School’s former teacher recalls that staff resolved to have their violent, paedophile parish priest Peter Searson removed before an apparent backdown during a meeting with Cardinal George Pell in 1989.
Carmel Rafferty was on staff at the Doveton school for six years during Father Searson’s 13-year reign of terror.
She says some “influence” may have caused a delegation of teachers to soften their demands during a meeting with then-Auxiliary-Bishop George Pell.
On 3 March, Cardinal Pell told the Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse that he didn’t take stronger action against Father Searson because the delegation asked for the parish priest to stay.
The delegation had “expressed to some degree” their concerns about Father Searson’s conduct with children, he said.
“I remember very explicitly they weren’t asking for his removal.
“That obviously is incompatible to them saying to me he is a serious risk of paedophilia.”
Ms Rafferty was not part of the delegation but recalls staff agreed before the meeting that Father Searson should be removed because of his “bizarre behaviour”.
“I remember we had high hopes that he would be removed.”
Ahead of the meeting, Cardinal Pell received a list of five complaints signed by all staff including a “small group of children shown (a) dead body in (a) coffin”, “cruelty to an animal in front of young children” and “compulsion on children to attend reconciliation on demand”.
Also on the list was “unnecessary use of children’s toilets” and “harassment of children”.
At the Royal Commission, Cardinal Pell stated the Catholic Education Office had inadequately briefed him on the list of issues ahead of the meeting with teachers.
He said the education office at the time deceived him partly to protect then-Archbishop Frank Little, who had been inactive on the Searson matter.
Ms Rafferty recalled a “horrible sinking feeling” when told by the school’s assistant principal Shirley Barrett that the delegation decided to “give him another chance”.
“Other than being deeply disappointed, I desperately felt it was a lost opportunity.”
“I can’t help thinking what influence was brought to bear on staff at that meeting. What made them back down?”
It wasn’t the first failed attempt to have Searson removed during his 13-year tenure from 1984.
The Journal reported in late 1986 that Holy Family parishioners and parents had called a public meeting to demand Searson’s axing.
Royal Commission evidence revealed that a week after the Journal’s report, Father Searson had requested a transfer from the Doveton parish.
Archbishop Little declined the transfer because he deemed there was no suitable parish for Father Searson to go to.
While at the school, Ms Rafferty became a whistle-blower sharing her concerns with a priest in the Melbourne diocese.
The principal at the time warned her to “cover your arse”. Both he and a Catholic Education Office consultant warned her to say nothing,
Four months later, she received an accusatory letter from the principal raising “concerns about your teaching career”.
Under a regime of workplace bullying, her health gave out and she was forced to resign in March 1993.
She never regained full-time employment in Catholic schools, much like former principal Graeme Sleeman who resigned in protest against Father Searson in 1986.
She now feels vindicated, that she can “walk tall” as she ties ribbons to the parish’s fence to remember the survivors and non-survivors of the abuse.
Her overall impression of Cardinal Pell’s evidence was that he “marches to a medieval drum”.
“One most resounding to the beat of his clerical cultural choice, to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear.
“The Andrew Bolt interview last week showed Pell’s softer side.
“It would be wonderful if he came back to Australia and devoted himself pastorally to providing the best care possible for all survivors and their families.”
