Diocese of Armidale to create memorial for child abuse victims

A memorial to victims of child abuse will be erected in the grounds of Saints Mary & Joseph Catholic Cathedral in Armidale on December 4, incorporating the ribbons that are currently tied to the cathedral fence as a public display of support for victims.

In a statement yesterday, the Bishop of Armidale, Michael Kennedy, said some of the ribbons will be preserved and added to the Diocesan archives which will be available for display from time to time when the Diocese establishes a historical display room.

"Those who have tied ribbons to the cathedral fence are invited to attend the service and move their ribbon to the new location," he said.

The memorial will include a statue of Mary the mother of Jesus, and a bench with a plaque inviting people to pray for victims of child abuse.

Bishop Kennedy will tie a ribbon at the new memorial and bless the bench and ribbons as part of the ceremony.

The decision to erect a memorial comes at the same time as the Armidale Regional Council discusses moving the Loud Fence ribbons from the Armidale Folk Museum and establishing a memorial within the city.

The Diocese of Armidale says it supports this initiative and does not intend its own memorial to replace such an initiative.