PRISON and hospital chaplains working in the Brisbane archdiocese set an historic first when meeting with abuse prevention expert Monica Applewhite last month.
Centacare pastoral ministries director Judy Norris, whose role covers Catholic Prison Ministry, said Dr Applewhite’s visit marked the first time archdiocesan chaplains had been in the same room together.
“It is the first time prison and hospital chaplains have been together at any event and particularly something so focused and so important that’s at the coalface of their work and their experience,” Mrs Norris said.
Dr Applewhite shared best practice for receiving abuse disclosures with more than 60 prison and hospital chaplains.
Mrs Norris said Dr Applewhite raised awareness on the “complexity of the issues involved”.
“And I think there is a real sense that we need to gather again, we need to know more, we need to really reflect on the practice and on the possibilities that confront us as chaplains in the area of receiving disclosures of sexual abuse,” she said.
Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge dropped in as an “unexpected guest” and thanked the chaplains for their work in the Church.
Mrs Norris said Archbishop Coleridge’s appreciation for chaplains was “powerful”.
Maryborough Correctional Centre chaplain Frank Burkett said the meeting with Dr Applewhite shed light on a “startling” issue.
“I think it’s quite important for us as chaplains to find out just where the Church is up to with these issues,” Mr Burkett said.
He was involved in setting up the Maryborough Correctional Centre more than 10 years ago and following his retirement he signed up to be a chaplain.
“Now that I’ve retired I felt it was time to give something back to the community as well,” Mr Burkett said.
“But also my Catholic faith required me to be a bit more involved in a ministry that is invisible otherwise.”
He said abuse disclosures were among the many challenging issues prison chaplains experienced.
“You experience challenging issues every time you go in because every situation of every man is different,” Mr Burkett said.
“But a lot of them have come from unfortunate backgrounds which is why they’re in prison to start with, and therefore, for us to speak with them after having listened to Monica will make it easier.”
