Well done Nick Xenophon. End the cover ups !!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-13/-xenophon-threatens-to-name-priest/2882358


Quote:

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon has called on the Federal Government to reconsider the appointment of Monsignor David Cappo as chairman of its new Mental Health Commission. Senator Xenophon claimed in Parliament last night that Monsignor Cappo has failed to investigate allegations of sexual abuse in the South Australian Catholic Church in a timely manner. And he says if one of the priests who was allegedly involved in the sexual abuse is not relieved of his duties by noon today, he will name him in the Senate. The sexual abuse claims were made by Archbishop John Hepworth, the primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion. "Archbishop Hepworth was the victim of violent rapes perpetrated by three priests when he was a young boy studying to become a priest, and during his early years of priesthood," Senator Xenophon said. And he claims the response of the Catholic Church in South Australia has been inadequate. "I believe the weakness of that response can be traced back in part to Monsignor Cappo, who for reasons not fully explained, has failed to act in a timely and decisive manner on this important issue," he said. Audio: Listen to AM's report on the allegations (AM) Senator Xenophon told Parliament Archbishop Hepworth reported his alleged sexual abuse to Monsignor Cappo and Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson in 2007. "Mr Hepworth told these men he was repeatedly raped at various times over a 12-year period, beginning when he was 15," he said. "But despite being told of the abuse in 2007, and receiving a detailed six-page statement in March 2008, David Cappo told John Hepworth this year that the investigation was still at, quote, 'a preliminary stage' because, incredibly, he claimed John had not lodged a formal complaint. "I find this response to be as troubling as it is inadequate." Audio: Archbishop John Hepworth talks to 891 ABC (ABC News) Monsignor Cappo recently retired as Social Inclusion Commissioner for the South Australian Government and will now head the national Mental Health Commission. But Senator Xenophon questions this new appointment. "I question whether it is appropriate for a senior religious figure like David Cappo, who has responded this way to allegations of serious sexual and psychological abuse, to be given the important role of chairman of the Federal Government's Mental Health Task Force," he said. Senator Xenophon told the Chamber that two of the priests who allegedly abused Archbishop Hepworth are dead. But one is still alive. "I am also calling for the Catholic Church in South Australia to immediately stand down this third priest from all his duties until these allegations are fully investigated," he said. "I will give the Catholic Church in South Australia until midday [today] to remove this priest from his post, and to ensure he is not allowed contact with young people and children in his parish. "If by midday this hasn't happened, I intend to name the priest in question here in the Senate. "David Cappo and the Catholic Church should have acted years ago. If they don't act now, I will." The Catholic Church has implored Senator Xenophon not to proceed with his naming threat. It says there are many complex and sensitive issues involved, which the Senator needs to be made aware of as a matter or urgency. It says it is happy to send legal advisers to meet with the Senator.

Good onya Xenophon. We need Derryn Hinch to the rescue. Name and shame 'em then hang 'em high, hanging out behind the cloth, how dare he.

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Sep 13^th, 2011 at 6:32pm:

Good onya Xenophon. We need Derryn Hinch to the rescue. Name and shame 'em then hang 'em high, hanging out behind the cloth, how dare he.

Hang em high - I like that   ;D

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Sep 13^th, 2011 at 6:32pm:

Good onya Xenophon. We need Derryn Hinch to the rescue. Name and shame 'em then hang 'em high, hanging out behind the cloth, how dare he.

Derryn is a wee bit preocupied at the moment.

So he's going to publicly declare someone as a paedophile?
Someone who has neither been investigated or charged by the police?

You better get a lawyer, Nick. Better get a real good one.

Life_goes_on wrote on Sep 13^th, 2011 at 6:52pm:

So he's going to publicly declare someone as a paedophile? Someone who has neither been investigated or charged by the police? You better get a lawyer, Nick. Better get a real good one.

Isn't he covered by parliamentary privilege?


Quote:

he will name him in the Senate.

Deborahmac09 wrote on Sep 13^th, 2011 at 6:58pm:

Life_goes_on wrote on Sep 13th, 2011 at 6:52pm: So he's going to publicly declare someone as a paedophile? Someone who has neither been investigated or charged by the police? You better get a lawyer, Nick. Better get a real good one. Isn't he covered by parliamentary privilege? Quote: he will name him in the Senate.

Excellent point. It depends on how he presents it in the senate. As far as I know he can't just come out and say "person x is a paedophile".

Quote:

Xenophon to name priest accused of sex abuse Independent Senator Nick Xenophon is standing by his threat to tonight name the priest at the centre of the Catholic Church's latest alleged sex abuse scandal. He told the Senate last night that he would name the man under parliamentary privilege unless the church stood him down while it investigated the allegations. The church sent Senator Xenophon a legal letter today imploring him not to name the man, but the senator says he has no choice. The alleged victim, Archbishop John Hepworth, is now the Primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion. He says he was repeatedly raped by three priests over a 12-year period while training in a Catholic seminary. One of those priests is still alive and has a parish in Adelaide. Archbishop Hepworth says he does not want Senator Xenophon to name the priest in Parliament. "I have suggested to him that instead of naming the priest tonight, which brings things to some sort of climax but maybe not one that solves any problems, that he write to Archbishop Wilson suggesting to him that it's probably important enough to request the priest stand aside while that inquiry of the QC proceeds," he said. "If indeed the Archbishop agrees to ask the priest to stand aside, then there is no need to name him. "My allegations were a greater story than just this one priest. This treatment of this priest is only one part of that story. "As long as the process goes on that is fair and just, I will be comfortable with that." The Catholic Church responded to Senator Xenophon's threat to name the priest with a legal letter in which it said: "The priest concerned has categorically denied the allegations." "Objectively speaking, it is not irrelevant that he has been a priest of good standing in the archdiocese for almost 50 years," the letter said. "In those circumstances, any decision to suspend the priest concerned would be unjustifiable as a matter of canon and civil law." But Archbishop Hepworth disagrees, saying the priest should be forced to step down. "In the Catholic Church generally in Australia, bishops do stand priests aside or request they stand aside while allegations are investigated," he said. "I can't see how there can be any sort of law that would in fact prevent that request being made." Senator Xenophon says the only way the church can stop him naming the priest in Parliament is for it to remove the man from his post while the allegations are investigated. He has also called on the Federal Government to reconsider its appointment of Monsignor David Cappo as chairman of its new Mental Health Commission, claiming he failed to properly investigate the sexual abuse allegations. The Adelaide archdiocese has issued a statement, saying the priest has categorically denied the allegations, and the church has encouraged Archbishop Hepworth to report his allegations to the police but that he decided not to do so. A spokeswoman for Mental Health Minister Mark Butler says the Government stands by its decision to appoint Monsignor Cappo as he was the obvious choice. But Senator Xenophon says the Adelaide diocese has not conducted a proper investigation and should be held responsible. "I will make it very clear that everyone has a presumption of innocence, but the issue here is that Archbishop Hepworth approached the Catholic Church in South Australia... over four years ago about this," he said. "He made a written complaint over three years ago, after what I think was an unsatisfactory process to begin with. "What was offered to Archbishop Hepworth was really not satisfactory. So the Catholic Church in South Australia has itself to blame if this course continues. "This man can be stood down on administrative leave pending an investigation." Archbishop Hepworth says he is still hopeful of a resolution. "Only the church can heal what the church has broken, and if victims cannot approach the church they do not heal," he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-13/xenophon-to-name-alleged-sex-abuse-priest/2897744

Just heard it on News Radio - the alleged pedophile has been named.

Life_goes_on wrote on Sep 13^th, 2011 at 6:52pm:

So he's going to publicly declare someone as a paedophile? Someone who has neither been investigated or charged by the police? You better get a lawyer, Nick. Better get a real good one.

judging by history Xenophon is most likely to be right ;)

Sir lastnail wrote on Sep 13^th, 2011 at 11:47pm:

Life_goes_on wrote on Sep 13th, 2011 at 6:52pm: So he's going to publicly declare someone as a paedophile? Someone who has neither been investigated or charged by the police? You better get a lawyer, Nick. Better get a real good one. judging by history Xenophon is most likely to be right ;)

Yup - and if these allegations are true, then, the abuse went on for over a decade...

Given the timeframe of alleged serial abuses - and the time that has elapsed since, t iis untenable that these 3 clergymen would have confined their abuses to a single victim...

It remains to be seen, whether other victims will come forward...

Im not entirely sure what the naming of him has to do with a senator carrying out his duties.

Im sorry, but I think its wrong that he is using his position in such a way as to pervert the course of justice and to shame someone before any investigation has been conducted by police.

What happens if the guy is found not guilty, Xenophon has ruined him regardless of the outcome.

He has tried to use parlimentary privilledge to muscle, and its weak.

Why not name him outside the Senate and see who much balls he really has.

Verge wrote on Sep 14^th, 2011 at 10:23am:

Im not entirely sure what the naming of him has to do with a senator carrying out his duties. Im sorry, but I think its wrong that he is using his position in such a way as to pervert the course of justice and to shame someone before any investigation has been conducted by police. What happens if the guy is found not guilty, Xenophon has ruined him regardless of the outcome. He has tried to use parlimentary privilledge to muscle, and its weak. Why not name him outside the Senate and see who much balls he really has.

what course of justice are you talking about ?? doing nothing !!!

Exposing a paedophile clergyman, there should be more of it. They've hidden behind the church for long enough. The church was given the choice to do the right thing, they didn't so good on Xenophon for bringing it out into the open.

That's why we need independents, they not only keep the other political parties honest, they expose criminal clergymen.

Sir lastnail wrote on Sep 14^th, 2011 at 11:30am:

Verge wrote on Sep 14th, 2011 at 10:23am: Im not entirely sure what the naming of him has to do with a senator carrying out his duties. Im sorry, but I think its wrong that he is using his position in such a way as to pervert the course of justice and to shame someone before any investigation has been conducted by police. What happens if the guy is found not guilty, Xenophon has ruined him regardless of the outcome. He has tried to use parlimentary privilledge to muscle, and its weak. Why not name him outside the Senate and see who much balls he really has. what course of justice are you talking about ?? doing nothing !!!

This is a matter for the police, not for a senator with a grudge.

If Xenophon truely had balls and stood behind what he believed, he should have named them outside the protection of the senate.

I think its actually gutless of him, to use his position in the senate.

At least Hinch didnt need to stand behind anyone.  Hinch had true balls, Xenophon did it where he knew he was safe from prosecution and questioning.

Not only that, I think its outside the scope of what parlimentary priviledge is actually about.

If he wants to protect us from Pedo's, become a copper or a prosecutor, not a pollitican.

Verge wrote on Sep 14^th, 2011 at 1:51pm:

Sir lastnail wrote on Sep 14th, 2011 at 11:30am: Verge wrote on Sep 14th, 2011 at 10:23am: Im not entirely sure what the naming of him has to do with a senator carrying out his duties. Im sorry, but I think its wrong that he is using his position in such a way as to pervert the course of justice and to shame someone before any investigation has been conducted by police. What happens if the guy is found not guilty, Xenophon has ruined him regardless of the outcome. He has tried to use parlimentary privilledge to muscle, and its weak. Why not name him outside the Senate and see who much balls he really has. what course of justice are you talking about ?? doing nothing !!! This is a matter for the police, not for a senator with a grudge. If Xenophon truely had balls and stood behind what he believed, he should have named them outside the protection of the senate. I think its actually gutless of him, to use his position in the senate. At least Hinch didnt need to stand behind anyone.  Hinch had true balls, Xenophon did it where he knew he was safe from prosecution and questioning. Not only that, I think its outside the scope of what parlimentary priviledge is actually about. If he wants to protect us from Pedo's, become a copper or a prosecutor, not a pollitican.

No doubt you feel the same way about the attacks on Thompson?

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Sep 14^th, 2011 at 11:36am:

Exposing a paedophile clergyman, there should be more of it. They've hidden behind the church for long enough. The church was given the choice to do the right thing, they didn't so good on Xenophon for bringing it out into the open. That's why we need independents, they not only keep the other political parties honest, they expose criminal clergymen.

Its not a political matter, its a criminal one.

Its not for the Church to investigate, its for the police.

If someone where to abuse my child I wouldnt be conducting my own investigation before handing it over to the police would I.

Asking the Church to investigate it is as bad as the Union conducting an investigation into Thompson, hardly independent is it.

Xenophon has an axe to grind with the Church, and wants to hide behind his parlimentary priviledge.  As far as Im concerned he is gutless, not a hero.  Its easy to name names when there is no personal ramifications.

Verge wrote on Sep 14^th, 2011 at 1:57pm:

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Sep 14th, 2011 at 11:36am: Exposing a paedophile clergyman, there should be more of it. They've hidden behind the church for long enough. The church was given the choice to do the right thing, they didn't so good on Xenophon for bringing it out into the open. That's why we need independents, they not only keep the other political parties honest, they expose criminal clergymen. Its not a political matter, its a criminal one. Its not for the Church to investigate, its for the police. If someone where to abuse my child I wouldnt be conducting my own investigation before handing it over to the police would I. Asking the Church to investigate it is as bad as the Union conducting an investigation into Thompson, hardly independent is it. Xenophon has an axe to grind with the Church, and wants to hide behind his parlimentary priviledge.  As far as Im concerned he is gutless, not a hero.  Its easy to name names when there is no personal ramifications.

Quote:

Its easy to name names when there is no personal ramifications.

YES it is and it would be next to impossible to do it if Xeno left himself open to prosecution. That's why we grant parlimentarians that privilege and why we select people to have it carefully.