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Bishop apologises to abuse victims over "cranky" remarks

20/07/2008 6:07:00 PM.  | Gemma Sapwell
World Youth Day organiser Bishop Anthony Fisher has apologized about comments he made about victims of clergy sexual abuse.

Bishop Fisher was widely criticised for comments he made earlier in the week that people complaining about sexual abuse cases by Catholic priests were “dwelling crankily on old wounds”.

He’s used a closing World Youth Day press conference to clarify his comments, saying he was referring to the media and not victims of sexual assault.

He says people who have suffered at the hands of the Catholic Church have every right to be angry.

“We all know that there are people suffering after child abuse for years afterwards. And it’s not my place or anyone else’s to tell them to stop grieving or to stop hurting.”

Macquarie National News

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COMMENTS

Sunday, 20 July 2008

Bishop Anthony Fisher you are an inspiration to many! The excellent WYD that you worked so hard for four years to organise that showcased both the Church and Sydney and the Catholic youth to all the world ! and now you say sorry! That takes humilty! So well done to you and your team for the good work you did for so many! People should focus on the good others do in the world and you have done much good for others with the marvelous WYD 2008 events. Now you deserve a well earned break.

Posted by: catherine kennedy, Bentleigh victoria

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Sunday, 20 July 2008

I agree with the Bishop - it is the Media , especially the ABC, that has been 'dwelling crankily on old wounds'. They seem to promote stories that suit their political agendas.

Posted by: Desmond Harris, Beacon Hill

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Sunday, 20 July 2008

Seems to me that the bishop has probably been cloistered for so long that he doesn't know what ordinary people are thinking. Question is did he go into the seminary before he had any life experience. Such off the cuff remarks is no excuse .He is so removed from the people he can put the blame on the media. Easy now to see now how the church could have let predators through its ranks.

Posted by: owen Milner, Melbourne

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Sunday, 20 July 2008

The fact that Fisher would actually make such an offensive statement (and in public!) tells us what kind of a person he is. He is "sorry" because he got called on it, certainly not because he said it. He belongs to the increasingly arrogant, condescending, disconnected, entitled gang of queens who now run the institutional church. God help us!

Posted by: h r h, miami, fl

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Monday, 21 July 2008

Bishop Anthony Fisher is an inspiration to us all. The media, especially the ABC, had been heavily focusing on the Foster family's comments as the expense of all things positive, and it is no wonder the Bishop's comments were directed at the media. Good on him for continuing to be sensitive even though its to appease the media than mush else as he had every right to be exasperated. The ABC disgraced itself. One notes the National Broadcaster didn't even both having a reporter on the Papal plane.

Posted by: David Ready, Padstow

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Monday, 21 July 2008

The freak show is over people, let it go. Want something to ponder? The news reported 125,000 at Randwick for the sleep over, said the next day would see the course swell to maximum crowd of 250,000. That night the crowd was " reported" to be 500, 000, this morning 400,000. who's fudging figures? The earlier reports say less than 100,000 came into country for the event. Catholics number app. 1.1billion? Seems to be a lot of Catholics didnt give a rats about the EVENT. WYD or WY DAYS? wasted $$$

Posted by: Nick Again, Maryborough

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Monday, 21 July 2008

Nick; they say a 'picture paints a thousand words'. What we don’t care about is the exact numbers. It was a very impressive event, which filled the whole racecourse. A waste of $$$ eh? What, demonstrating to young people that can have a purposeful way of life in which that can be happy, and in which they don’t need either alcohol or drugs? I’d like to see your working answer being demonstrated somewhere. We owe a lot to our young. We owe them an answer to their existance. Let's see yours.

Posted by: David Ready,

Monday, 21 July 2008

Perhaps David you can explain also just what Answer the POPE gave to these people, already OF the FAITH? I dont have a model for such a thing and haven't proposed to have one. My point on $ wasted remains, if my children could have access to a computer at school or see the POPE drive by, I would tick the computer at school option time and again. It will serve many over Time, seeing the pope, once in a liftime? Dont let your devout Faith blind you to the needs, beneficial to the WHOLE community.

Posted by: Nick Again, maryborough

Monday, 21 July 2008

Nick, the Pope’s and the Pilgrims “answer” was “example”; the example of how youth can live without chemical stimulants. It was also a call to the faithful to spread this “answer”, and to become more involved in the Church’s work, as the State, and the ‘secular’, don’t have any example which can be seen working anywhere. The Catholic Church runs the largest Social Services organisations in Australia, saving the taxpayer million, so this was a small "payback" as the taxpayer owes the Church big.

Posted by: David Ready,

Monday, 21 July 2008

@David Ready. So where does the church gets its cash from? What it brings it in from overseas or the Lord brings it down from the heavens? No, the community gives churches the cash, just like the community pays tax. Lest any bloody church can do is give it back. But it only gives some of it back don't it. Keeps some to keep Bishops in fancy robes, buy Pope mobiles, Pope security, Pope Jumbo jets etc. Oh and also to hire lots of lawyers, to defend the sexual predators that masquerade as clergy.

Posted by: Russell Jones, Towomba

Monday, 21 July 2008

Russell; The Church gets its cash from the faithful, the believers, the parishioners. Very little of it comes from non-Church sources even though they expect the Church to always be there for their pagan christenings, weddings and funerals. The Catholics has the largest of Australia’s Social Service organisations, and gives more back to society than any other Christian organisation. Pope Jumbo Jet? You can’t be serious. He flew out on a commercial Qantas jet & in on an Alitalia.

Posted by: David Ready,

 

Monday, 21 July 2008

My point was who is fudging numbers and for whom/what end? For such a truthfull event why the crap with figures? We dont "OWE" our children an answer for their existance, we "OWE" them the assistance in finding their place in the world. We "owe" them the security of a safe place to grow up and an education to get them where THEY wish to be in life. The Pope coming here, as good as it may be does not offer the resources for any of these. The funds used to get the show here could have. (cont)

Posted by: Nick Again, maryborough

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Monday, 21 July 2008

Nick; why are you so afraid to have your real name published?

Posted by: David Ready,

Monday, 21 July 2008

I dont leave my name as i dont see the point. If your really interested, look back in some OLDER ones, its there. Dont worry, I'm not hiding from anyone. I'm strong in my faith david, I only fear he who can take my soul, Or do stupid shit like sail our country downstream and throw parties to cover it up!

Posted by: nick Again, maryborough

 

Monday, 21 July 2008

So far David, you point for reason for the few, again. Tax breaks are afforded the churches for all charities yes? I dont wish to bag your church, i merely point out the fact that the money could have been well spent in other places? Hospitals for example, roads, public transport, etc. But no your right, we should have had this WYD, for so few, its the way of the nation isnt it mate? To hell with the majority, we'll prop for the Minority. Lets make someone drive 4 hrs to a hospital and have WYD

Posted by: Nick Again, Maryborough

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Monday, 21 July 2008

Young Nick, My heart bleeds for you and your struggle trying to come to terms with the WYD celebrations. The Pope has now left Australia and the hurt should soon peter out. I refer to you as young but you appear to have wisdom that is beyond the young, however I hesitate to address you as Old Nick.

Posted by: Edward Calleagh, Canberra

Monday, 21 July 2008

But Nick; if you put together all of the Social Services by ALL Christian Services you as a taxpayer are saving billions of dollars and a small payback for facilities and crowd control is a very small price to pay for an answer to society's ills as nobody else has an answer, which works, other than the Christian Church. I would go so as to suggest that most of the allocated Police would have been sent home as "not being needed". 76% of Aussies say they are Christian. That is not a minority!

Posted by: David Ready,

Monday, 21 July 2008

765 of oz from whos Poll? Do all of the 76% belong to the Catholic faith David? Interesting read, Aust. census, put catholics at 26%, now is that Minority enough for you? Combine this no. with those who have the Jaded notion that being BORN to parents who practice a faith, puts them down as of the same faith and where is the REAL number at? I'm sorry david but in these times of finance ruin in the world, our country going down hill. it shouldnt have been considered.

Posted by: Nick Again, Maryborough

Monday, 21 July 2008

David ready, you need to do some research into this Church buddy if you want to start talking about Good.http://www.chick.com/reading/books/153/153cont.asp. This man outside of a religous belonging has tracs published yr in and out, is well known for his understanding and teaching of the WORD of GOD. Again, i dont wish to bag your church but i think you need to be awake. 2nd tim 2:16 David. Have a look around. i didnt bag the concept of WYD i bag the Spending of state resources to finance it.

Posted by: Nick Again, maryborough

 

Monday, 21 July 2008

Owen writes: "Seems to me that the bishop has probably been cloistered for so long that he doesn't know what ordinary people are thinking." My response: The Bishops spend countless hours with people from all walks of life both inside and outside the Church. It is not the Church that is out of touch with Society, it is our society that is out of touch with the Church. The Catholic Church pioneered child protection in this country! Forgiveness is the key to peace. Jesus left us the perfect way!

Posted by: Martin Pannell, Wollongong

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Monday, 21 July 2008

Martin, you've had too much Holy water me thinks.Society is out of touch with the Church? mate we tend to be out of touch with anyoone or organisation that has preyed on our children. jesus Did leave us the perfect way, yes. he also left some passages for us to read about the traps of Pharisee's and Saducee's! I've been in plenty of catholic churches, never seen a bishop in one of them, as for around the Town? Nope cant say i saw one there either. Doesnt mean they aint there i know.

Posted by: Nick Again, Maryborough

 

Monday, 21 July 2008

76% according to whose Statistics? how many counted, and what is the % swing in allowance of called numbers to population? Which demographic was surveyed? 7 yrs Ive been awaiting corrective surgery. I believe in God and My Bible too. I believe 130 mill for the converted to be a waste. We have Hospitals that could have used the Money! We also have crisis centers.All social services to churches are donated, as well as being Tax free, rate free etc. get off your Horse david and have a look about!

Posted by: Nick Again, maryborough

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Monday, 21 July 2008

Nick. I never said 76% of the population were Catholic. I used the word Christian. And it's well time that the State gave a bit back for all the Social Services all Christian Churches provide. $150M is a small price to pay to show pagans that there is another way to live, which doesn't need to be supplemented with chemicals. Btw, there are many other organisations which have tax free status and don’t provide social services. As a taxpayer consider yourself blessed that the Churches exist.

Posted by: David Ready,

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Monday, 21 July 2008

I consider myself Blessed that i dont have to be a part of any religion to Achieve salvation david. Read what i wrote. I didnt say your 76% were catholics. I did point out that all the good it does is Primarily donated. Your Church provides for These Pagans as do they contribute to your Church. You keep dribbling about chemical dependence. Are you saying without WYD our youths are damned to chemicals? Your off your nut catholic boy! 68% christians on the census not 76%.

Posted by: Nick Again, Maryborough

Monday, 21 July 2008

david the wyd was a catholic event was it not? I spoke of minority and pointed out that the suppossed 76% has nothing to do with it. the catholic faith amounts to 26% of our population, according to the Australian Census. 26% represents a minority in this country of 21.3 mill. I dont think the the remainder of the sects that make up the 76% dont count on the fact they aren't catholic. we can argue the point forever david, fact is 130 mill for minority is not smart spending. Good or bad aside.

Posted by: nick again, Maryborough

 

Monday, 21 July 2008

I hope all of those concerned with victims of sexual abuse keep up the barrage of disgust at this lowest form of criminal behaviour. I hope they all speak out against all the other Churches guilty of moving Ministers to other parishes after abusing children. Hopefully I will see the same enthusiasm in these posts against the majority of child sexual abusers, the fathers, grandfathers, uncles, relatives, because whether you like it or not, these are the majority of child sexual abuse offenders.

Posted by: susan lowe, gippsland

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Monday, 21 July 2008

"chemical dependence" = drugs and alcahol to have a good time. I am not a Catholic. I am a Christian first; that is a follower of Christ; and I was more than happy to have Christ proclaimed at such an event, and it was well and truly worth the money, as the outcome of many more young people following Christ, in the Holy Spirit, would see a major downturn in the cost to society which, in the long run, would see more funds released for needs such as yours.

Posted by: David Ready, Padstow

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