Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home News

‘Sorry’ to sex abuse victims

byStaff writers
23 June 2002 - Updated on 16 March 2021
Reading Time: 1 min read
AA
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

BISHOP Brian Heenan of Rockhampton has apologised ‘unreservedly’ to victims of sexual abuse and to their families.

In a letter to all parishes on June 15-16, he also affirmed the integrity of ‘the vast majority of our priests and religious’.

Bishop Heenan was responding to revelations of sexual abuse of boys by Michael McArdle while he was a Rockhampton diocesan priest.

Allegations of abuse by the then Fr McArdle have come from Mackay, Farleigh, Longreach and Bundaberg, where he served in the 1970s and 1980s.

Mr McArdle retired from diocesan ministry in 1988 and was monitored to ensure he was not involved in any way with young people.

He formally resigned from the priesthood in October 2000.

Bishop Heenan said he was appointed to Rockhampton diocese in 1991 and was told of abuses at the hands of Michael McArdle in 1996. This abuse had occurred before 1988.

Bishop Heenan said he immediately contacted Fr McArdle, who did not deny the allegations. He agreed to attend a specialist centre for comprehensive assessment and treatment but was not permitted to return to active diocesan ministry.

‘My apology and heartfelt sorrow goes out not only to those who have suffered abuse by Michael McArdle,’ Bishop Heenan said, ‘but to all victims of abuse perpetuated by members of the Church.

‘I assure all victims and their families that the Church will respond with compassion and understanding.

Related Stories

Australian Plenary Council aims to avert Church ‘moment of crisis’

Fr El Louie Jimenez ordained

Fr Josh braves ‘freezing’ June night to raise awareness for homelessness at Vinnies Sleepout

‘We cannot change the past, but we must learn from our past failings and work to ensure that the lives of those affected by the evil of sexual abuse will be better into the future.’

ShareTweet
Previous Post

LIFE AS A HOUSE

Next Post

Big walk to help Mater

Staff writers

Related Posts

Plenary task: “Reveal the face of Christ”
News

Australian Plenary Council aims to avert Church ‘moment of crisis’

30 June 2022
Man of faith: Newly-ordained priest Fr El Louie Jiminez with Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge at St Stephen's Cathedral on June 29. Photos: Alan Edgecomb / Purple Moon Photography
QLD

Fr El Louie Jimenez ordained

30 June 2022
Braving the cold: Caloundra Unity College Principal Daniel McShea ,Our Lady of the Rosary College Principal Dr Michael Stewart and Caloundra priest Fr Joshua Whitehead.

Fr Josh braves ‘freezing’ June night to raise awareness for homelessness at Vinnies Sleepout

30 June 2022
Next Post

Big walk to help Mater

Horror of embryo bill

Sisters quit Coast hospital

Popular News

  • Performer: Liza is a trained gymnast and contortionist and has enjoyed performing at St Eugene College.

    Young Ukrainian performer settles into new life in Brisbane school

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Catholics need better understanding of the Mass, Pope says in follow-up letter to Traditionis Custodes

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Abdallah family deliver powerful Vatican speech

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Fr El Louie Jimenez ordained

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Fr Josh braves ‘freezing’ June night to raise awareness for homelessness at Vinnies Sleepout

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Plenary task: “Reveal the face of Christ”
News

Australian Plenary Council aims to avert Church ‘moment of crisis’

by Mark Bowling
30 June 2022
0

LEADING Catholics say decisions made at the second assembly of the Plenary Council next week – could...

Man of faith: Newly-ordained priest Fr El Louie Jiminez with Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge at St Stephen's Cathedral on June 29. Photos: Alan Edgecomb / Purple Moon Photography

Fr El Louie Jimenez ordained

30 June 2022
Braving the cold: Caloundra Unity College Principal Daniel McShea ,Our Lady of the Rosary College Principal Dr Michael Stewart and Caloundra priest Fr Joshua Whitehead.

Fr Josh braves ‘freezing’ June night to raise awareness for homelessness at Vinnies Sleepout

30 June 2022
Catholics need better understanding of the Mass, Pope says in follow-up letter to Traditionis Custodes

Catholics need better understanding of the Mass, Pope says in follow-up letter to Traditionis Custodes

30 June 2022
Performer: Liza is a trained gymnast and contortionist and has enjoyed performing at St Eugene College.

Young Ukrainian performer settles into new life in Brisbane school

29 June 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping