To really atone, Stannies should become secular
THE Western Advocate's editorial (“One man’s evil can’t define a whole school”, February 17) not only misses the mark, it attempts to give St Stanislaus’ College an undeserved "clean slate", while misleading readers by using the title "one man's evil". There were so many others.
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With the Royal Commission finding that seven per cent of Catholic clergy have been charged with sex offences from 1950 to 2010, and the average victim taking 30 years to come forward, then wouldn’t it be logical to presume that it has been going on for 150 years? Instead, the editorial gives the 150 years of “great contribution to the community” as a reason to outweigh the crimes.
The newspaper seems to be looking at the issue from a "day boy" mentality. Day boys lived at home and only went to Stannies during the day, then went home to the safety and protection of their families. Day boys had limited exchange with the priests. Indeed, most local Bathurst day boys and their families saw the school as a shining beacon of Bathurst society. Boarders, on the other hand, were at the mercy of the priests 24 hours a day, had nowhere to hide, and the most vulnerable boarders were the main victims of the many paedophiles.
As a former boarder who went through Stannies who had his form masters (including Brian Joseph Spillane) charged with child abuse, I think this is the reasonable assumption that the abuse has been going on for as long as the church has been there. It is unfortunate that the Western Advocate's "Day boy editorial" is not only misleading, but wants us to see things from the happy side of the school that escaped these horrible crimes. It is reminiscent of Spillane’s first trial in Bathurst Court House where about 50 supporters of Spillane sneered at the lonely plaintiff. If it wasn’t for this plaintiff, Spillane would be still roaming the streets.
The editorial finishes saying that the school is now a leader in “education and pastoral achievement”. With more lay staff and fewer clergy I can see how grades have risen. But as for “pastoral achievement”, the question the editor should be asking is: “Did you send your 11-year-old child to a school where there was a seven per cent chance that the person in loco parentis was a paedophile?”
An apology is a start. But what the school really needs to do to atone is break with the past, become a co-ed, secular college and rid the school of the clergy.
Chris Flynn, Fukuoka, Japan
Bigger Bathurst should feature on the forecast
HOW many of us think that Orange is bigger than Bathurst and that is why services are provided there that we do not have? Surprise, surprise, Bathurst not only has the larger population, but is also greater in area.
So it would be nice if such things as television weather forecasts included our city either instead of or as well as Orange.
We are no longer the little sister and should not be treated as such. We are entitled to those extra perks accorded to Orange.
Eulyce Arkleysmith, Peel
Correct decision on RYDA, but it took some pressure
I READ with interest in the Western Advocate that the Rotary Club of Bathurst East, along with organisations such as our police, Headspace and others, had 650 students in attendance at this year's Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) road safety program.
The Advocate’s editorial rightly stated that Bathurst Regional councillors, after demurring last year, made the correct decision to again support RYDA this year.
The result can only be described as extraordinary, but readers should recall the Advocate’s efforts that resulted in pressure being successfully applied to council to change its mind.
Without that help, the situation may well have been different.