THE CHURCH NEEDS MORE LEADERS LIKE OUR BISHOP

THE Catholic Church has copped plenty of criticism over the past few decades, and so it should, after revelations of the disgraceful behaviour of priests across the country. Today the Townsville Bulletin veals another abhorrent priest.

The notorious paedophile priest Neville Joseph Creen, who terrorised young girls at a North Queensland Catholic primary school throughout the 1970s and early ’80s, has been jailed for historical abuse of two further girls during that period.

Creen, a parish priest in Mount Isa, spent his early life in Townsville and was forced to leave the church in 1994 when the whispers of his disgusting behaviour became a roar.

His crimes were not revealed until September 2003.

On Tuesday, Creen pleaded guilty to an additional seven charges, six of indecent treatment of girls under the age of 14 and one of indecent treatment of females.

His offending against one of the girls, aged nine or 10 in 1981, involved Creen molesting her in the confessional.

The evil behaviour is another blow for the Catholic Church.

Yesterday, the head of the Catholic Church in Townsville, Bishop Tim Harris, said the credibility of the church was shot.

Bishop Harris said he was horrified to read of further charges against the former Townsville priest.

“Words don’t describe how I really feel,” he said.

“It’s a sense of horror that this manifested itself in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.

“Let’s be honest, he’s got a history and it’s been well documented.

“It’s a terrible, sad history and one I’m constantly reflecting on because his name and more victims keep coming up.

“I don’t want history to repeat itself. I want to run a discourse that … puts in structures that make our church a safer place.”

If the Catholic Church is to heal and regain its tarnished reputation, it needs more leaders like Bishop Harris.

Leaders who are not afraid to call out the shocking behaviour and talk openly on the subject.

Bishop Harris has crusaded to cultivate a safe environment in the church in Townsville.

Please keep up the fight. re