Suzanne Smith - The Altar Boys

Contents

For Steven, and the ones who did not make it.

WARNING

The Altar Boys deals with issues of clerical sexual abuse and its cover up, and self-harm and suicide, which some readers may find disturbing.

If you find any of the content triggering, or need to talk to someone, confidential 24-hour support is available. Call:

Lifeline 13 11 14

Kids Help Line 1800 551 800

CONTENTS

The author acknowledges this is just a small part of the organisational structure of the Catholic Church. This graphic is designed to add comprehension to the roles, titles, organisations and committees mentioned in the book.

Administrator (priest in charge): Temporary appointment of a priest pending the arrival of the parish priest. The parish priest had tenure protected by canon law.

Alward, David and Peter: Brothers of Steven Alward.

Alward, Steven: Journalist, writer, author, former head of international news and Radio National at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Brother of David, Peter and Libby.

Apostolic Nuncio: Vatican diplomatic representative in Canberra

Franco Brambilla: February 1986 to November 1998

Ambrose De Paoli: December 2004 to October 2007

Adolfo Tito Yllana: February 2015 to present (current)

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference: The national assembly of all bishops in Australia. It meets regularly to address issues of national importance to the Church.

Bambach, Anthony (Tony): Former schoolteacher of the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese who committed child sex offences.

Benedict XVI, Pope: Retired Pope who served as head of the Catholic Church from 2005 until his resignation in 2013. Full name: Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger.

Brennan, Father Tom: Former principal of St Pius X High School, former vicar-general to Bishop Malone. Convicted of concealment charges. Child sex offender.

Brock, Father Peter: Former executive officer of the National Commission for Clergy Life and Ministry. Charged with multiple child sex offences. Trial aborted. In 2012, he was the National Project Officer for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. He died in September 2014.

Burston, Father Bill: Psychologist with a Masters of Psychology degree from University College, Dublin. Assistant parish priest at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Hamilton in 1974. Former director of Centacare in Newcastle. Vicar-general, 1996 to 2001. Assistant vicar-general, 2001 to 2005. Removed from ministry in 2015 following the findings of the Hunter Special Commission of Inquiry into the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese.

Butler, Brother Thomas Patrick: Former teacher at Marist Brothers Hamilton. The Marist Brothers have apologised for his sexual assaults on former students.

Byrne, Brendan (not his real name): The second victim of Father Fletcher to come forward to police.

Byrne, Elizabeth (not her real name): Sister of Brendan Byrne.

Cable, Brother Francis Romuald: Former teacher at Marist Brothers Hamilton. Convicted child sex offender.

Cahill, Maurie Father: Former parish priest in Hamilton, Newcastle, and former chaplain at Marist Brothers Hamilton school.

Callinan, Will: Former principal of Branxton (St Brigids) and Greta (St Marys) Catholic primary schools during the time of Father Fletcher. No relation to Jim Callinan.

Cassian, Brother: Marist Brother and teacher at Marist Brothers Hamilton in the late 1960s and 1970s. He was renowned for being a harsh disciplinarian and used extreme physical violence against the boys. His nickname was Bashin Cassian.

Catholic Church Insurance Limited (CCI): Underwrites the property, workers compensation and liability risks of entities of the Catholic Church in Australia.

Catholic Commission for Employment Relations: An advisory body for Catholic employers, such as schools, also providing advice, support and training on employment relations and the management of people.

Catholic Schools Office: The Maitland-Newcastle Diocese office that dealt with issues involving the diocesan schools and educational organisations.

Centacare: Catholic Church welfare agency that delivers a range of services to families and individuals in need.

Chancellor of a Catholic Archdiocese: This person keeps the official archives of the diocese, as a notary can also certify documents, and generally manages the files of a diocese. They can also manage personnel and finances. Father Brian Lucas held this position at the Archdiocese of Sydney.

Chiu, Hilbert: Senior counsel for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Barrister.

Clarke, Bishop Leo: Former bishop of the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese from 1976 to 1995.

Congregation for Bishops in the Vatican: The department of the Roman Curia that oversees the selection of most new bishops. All proposals require papal approval.

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF Vatican Committee): One of nine congregations in the Roman Curia (the Court of Rome), it is the body responsible for Catholic doctrine. The CDF has ultimate authority over priests and clergy, whether they are laicised, defrocked or moved from parish to parish.

Coolahan, Monsignor Frank: Director and assistant director of Catholic Education in the diocese from 1974 to 1990.

Cotter, Monsignor Patrick: Came to the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese in 1938 from Ireland. Second-in-command to Bishop Toohey and then Bishop Clarke. He was vicar capitular (stands in position of bishop) from 24 September 1975 to 3 June 1976 when there was a short vacancy before Clarke arrived.

Council of Priests: A group of priests who represent the presbyterium and who are the bishops senate. The Council of Priests role is to assist the bishop, in accordance with the law, in the governance of the diocese.

Creigh, Peter: Survivor of Father James Fletcher. Crown witness in the court case against Archbishop Philip Wilson regarding his charges of misprision of felony.

Davis, Libby: Steven Alwards sister.

Davoren, John: Former director of NSW Professional Standards Office of the Catholic Church.

Denham, Father John: Former priest of the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese. Former teacher at St Pius X High School.

Diocesan Child Protection and Professional Conduct Unit (DCPPCU): The coordinated diocesan response to child protection in 2005 in the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese. A unit of experienced social workers, investigators and support staff headed by Helen Keevers.

Director of Catholic Education: Head of Catholic Schools (apart from Marist Brothers schools) and adviser to the bishop in the diocese. The bishop had ultimate control over all schools in the diocese including those run by institutes such as the Marist Brothers.

Encompass Australasia: Specialist psychological service for people in helping ministries and professions who may be struggling with psychological issues; preferred provider of psychological assessment and treatment services for clergy of Catholic Church of Australia.

Faber, Detective Sergeant Kristi: