From My Friend Emma and the Catholic Truth, Justice & Healing Committee

Description: Our first question to Sullivan was to ask his employers to disband the destructive Towards Healing and the Melbourne Response

 

Francis Sullivan, CEO of the Truth, Justice and Healing committee

I contacted Francis Sullivan, CEO of the Truth, Justice and Healing committee, employed by the Catholic Church's Bishops Conference, to arrange a meeting on how TJ&H will be of assistance to victims of the Catholic Church's sex abuse and also help for unpaid advocates, etc relating to the royal commission.

Present at that meeting in Sydney, Thursday 14^thMarch 2013, Emma Furness, Pat Garnet and Francesco Vellozzi along with Francis Sullivan.

Our first question to Sullivan was to ask his employers to disband the destructive Towards Healing and the Melbourne Response due to overwhelming negative feedback from victims who have endured both processes including myself, Francesco and many others that I know.Sullivan's answer was to say he didn't have a brief and would not be asking the Bishops Conference headed by Archbishop Denis Hart to disband the processes. He said that the bishop's conference will review both processes this year but would not give a date as to when the bishops will deal with this matter.

Francesco told Sullivan that there has been no support from the Towards Healing council in his case whilst going through the process, however Sullivan had no support to offer Francesco nor was he able to suggest a solution. I asked, if there will be any victims on the TJ&H Committee. Sullivan said, the committee would have victim's representatives, but he stated that he would not be disclosing who they will be, saying it was a private matter.

I also asked, if there will be any support from the TJ&H committee for unpaid advocates as a result of the church's abuse including travel, phone bills, etc; I also asked him him if there was any help what-so-ever for the church's victims. He refused any support for both, saying that this was not in his brief. Sullivan confirmed that he was appointed only to help the Catholic Church throughout the duration of the Royal Commission.

I told Sullivan I had approached Cardinal George Pell on matters concerning legal representation for victims of his church's abuse, stating that the Catholic Church can access the best legal representation in the country. Pell's answer was to say, "Victims can get legal aid". Sullivan didn't seem shocked and had no response to the ruthless quote of heartless Pell.

Sullivan went on to acknowledge that victims have had poor representation from the church but does not have a brief to support victim's psychological or financial needs during this royal commission in any way what-so-ever.

In a question to Sullivan on where would victims access support elsewhere, Sullivan suggested Bravehearts in Queensland and Catholic Carelink in Melbourne. I told him that Susan Sharkey, the only coordinator and psychologist at Carelink has been under supervision from the Psychology Board of Australia for unprofessional behaviour towards a victim and has had countless complaints from victims throughout Australia. Sharkey is currently being monitored by the psychology board.

Our meeting with Sullivan was extremely negative and frustrating with his repetitious statement "I don't have a brief", the meeting came to an abrupt end.

Emma Furness

 

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