Statement from Dominic College
Some religious and teaching staff abused students in their care, physically, sexually and mentally, at Dominic College and its predecessors, Boys’ Town and Savio College. Any abuse of children is abhorrent and horrific. The extent of the abuse across Australia has gradually become known thanks to the various government and legal inquiries. Some perpetrators are being punished and incarcerated. Many criminals have not, and never will be.
Many in our community have been reluctant to believe our leaders could prioritise the reputation of the Church over the welfare of our children and their families. But it is clear this is what happened. In today’s schools, there is far greater awareness of abuse, deeper knowledge of the conditions which allow abuse to occur and clear measures and mandatory processes to proactively prevent, intervene and report any suspicion of grooming or abuse of students. We will continue to learn about historical abuse in our community and other Catholic schools and parishes, and we are committed to all initiatives that redress the terrible consequences to victims.
On behalf of all members of the Dominic College community, I express my deepest sorrow to any of our past students and their families who have been affected by child abuse. We extend our prayers and sincere hopes that you will find justice.
Principal
Dominic College
Statement from the Salesians of Don Bosco
As the Salesians of the Province of Mary Help of Christians of Australia and the Pacific, we are painfully aware that our personal and collective story has often been tainted by brokenness and sinfulness. In particular, we want to sincerely acknowledge the reality and scourge of the sexual abuse of minors that has visited us during our journey.
From the very beginning of our Salesian story, the beacon pointing out our identity and our mission has always been and will be the welfare, the education and the integral formation of young people, particularly the poor and abandoned ones. For us Salesians nothing is more precious and more sacred than the life of a young person. That will always be the absolute and unconditional raison d’etre for us. Consequently, any form of abuse is a denial of our vision and all we stand for, as well as a desecration of the very life of those we work for, depriving the most vulnerable of their dignity and of their future.
Unfortunately, we have seriously betrayed the trust placed on us and denied our mission and our responsibilities, particularly at Salesian College Sunbury. Today we say ‘sorry’ unconditionally and wholeheartedly to the victims and their families for the deep hurt our wrongdoing has caused. As a province community, we wish to apologise most sincerely and ask for their forgiveness.
For our part, as followers of Saint John Bosco whom the Church has called ‘Father and Teacher of Youth’, we unashamedly admit to our wrongdoings perpetrated through all forms of abuse on so many innocent victims and commit ourselves to ensure that such evil will never occur again in our province of Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and Fiji. While we apologise and ask for their forgiveness, we are firmly committed to continue our journey of support and compassion towards mutual healing and peace of heart and mind as the Lord has committed us to do.
Salesian Provincial
Australia-Pacific Province