Describing sexual abuse as "respulsive and repugnant", Salesians Australian head, Fr Frank Moloney SDB, has apologised to victims of a former priest Paul Evans convicted last week of a series of offences. "The fact that a professed Catholic priest was capable of it is just disgusting," Fr Moloney said in a statement.
"I sincerely apologise to the victims of Paul Evans, their families and friends and to all the good and trustworthy staff who have worked, and continue to work wonders at Boys' Town."
Paul Evans was a Salesian priest when the offences occurred at Boys' Town in the 1980s.
He was legally and canonically removed from the Order in 1991. The executive director of Boys' Town, Mr Jim Doyle, today said there was absolutely no excuse for any form of child abuse.
"Anyone found guilty of such an offence(s) should face the full weight of the law," he said.
Mr Doyle said crimes such as Evans' more than 20 years ago could not possibly be repeated today because of the structures and protocols put in place in – and steadfastly monitored since – 2000.
Speaking on behalf of the present Boys' Town management – a board of directors and more than 30 lay professional staff – Mr Doyle apologised unreservedly for the crime(s) committed by Mr Evans, who was removed from being a Salesian priest in 1991.
Paul Raymond Evans was earlier convicted of 18 serious child sex offences committed against seven boys as young as 13 who were pupils at Boys' Town, Engadine in Sydney's south, the Manly Daily reports.The 57 year old, a dormitory master and teacher at the school, was in the Salesian of Don Bosco order before becoming a diocesan priest and worked at St Rose of Lima church at Collaroy Plateau in the 1990s.
A jury of five men and seven women delivered their verdict at the Sydney District Court last week after taking more than a week to reach a decision.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce