IN AN unprecedented move, the northern NSW diocese of Grafton
has placed advertisements in multiple east-coast Australian
newspapers, apologising to children abused at a children's home in
Lismore. The apology relates to claims of abuse from the 1940s to
the 1980s.
The advertisements apologise "unreservedly" to children who
suffered "sexual abuse, harsh punishment, or a lack of appropriate
and nurturing care" at the North Coast Children's Home. The diocese
also asks for forgiveness for the "unacceptable manner in which
those who in recent years reported their abuse were hindered by
church leaders".
Earlier this year, the Bishop of Grafton, the Rt Revd Keith
Slater, who was due to retire later this year, resigned after an
audit revealed that he had not referred some sexual-abuse
allegations to the diocese's Professional Standards Director (News, 24
May).