Australia

after Rome I went to Australia. To a conference arranged by 'Survivors Australia'. Now Australia I love, I knew it would be hard with travelling alone in wheelchair but despite the two 11 hour flights , transfer in Bangkok, I arrived in one piece to nearly 30 degrees summer time.

I was met by the conference organiser and founder of 'survivors australia' Nikki Wells. I stayed with her, her partner Paul and son Preston age 6. later joined by Emma, a survivor and little girl aged 11, pauls daughter. A family home was a joy as a single, live alone peson. Preston delighted me and teased me about poisonous spiders, of which I am paranoid about. Needless to say he was to alert me to a real funnel web spider that had entered after a heavy storm. this I bravely killed as Preston murmered "(the spray kiler) won't kill him", I said perhaps I could knock him out!" . He was right it took ages to immobilise it and then to mash it with my slipper, then put the deceased outside in the garden. The mozzies again liked me and I got bitten mega. Even under my eye marring my beauty for a time.

Yes Australia is some place and this was some conference. The first day survivors were welcomed to a programe of distinquished presenters (I'm included)such as Tom Doyle, the American Dominican, with a big heat and much wisdom, who for so long has been a thorn in the side of the Vatican, ditto Bishop Geoffry Robinson.A man of integrity, warmth and spiritual depth who has been cruelly treated by his 'conferes in christ' (a joke) sidelined and rejected. A Bishop survivor of Sexual abuse who put his head above the parapet like Tom. These men bring hope to us, hope of decent clergy amongst the rotten apples in the barrell.

Their talks were 'Truth to Power' and empowered us greatly. (see 'Catholica' site for parts of their talks) and video therein.

I gave my talk on 'Clergy sexual exploitation of Adult women' and promptly was approached by two former nuns and a lay woman all sexually abused as adults by clergy. This always happens. The adults sexually abused are as sidelined and abused again by the rejection of their stories by all and sundry. Take for example the journalist of the Sydney Morning Herald who told me she could not do an article on the issues or my research as it was not 'Australian' and added the paper was not there to help people but to print stories to sell. mmmmnnn...well there we go I suppose.

Nevertheless I had the privilage to go on an Abc religious programme with Tom Doyle (can be found online) and took phone calls from the public. I hope we were able to help.

The next day was for professionals. Mostly the same speakers and equally powerful.

Talks were filmed by Cathlica and Toms & Geoffrey Robinson's are on that site.

What was most interesting was to Discover Australia is so behind in many respects to the rest of the world. The Archbishop who came into much criticism and vitrole was 'Pell'
, survivors spoke of him as almost evil. The stories I heard about his response to abuse were horrendous. Why should the australian survivors have to suffer this man?

I also discovered that survivor groups all criticise each other. no unity of purpose and it seems some dodgy dealings, collusiveness with the Church or taking cuts in money from survivors compensation for help given.

This was hugely disappointing, but replicated in Ireland also. We are not here to gain personaly. Not here to cause harm or disunity. Not here to set up kingdoms, be territorial, isolationists, preaching our own 'take' on the issues. Survivor groups need to work together. This is what Nikki Wells hopes.

Just as gary Bergeron & McDaide in rome called ALL survivors to unite, nikki and others do too. there is now an international coalition of survivors. more anon I hope. There is a realnd growing sense that groups are better united, better with integrity and beyond reproach and more professionally structured and organised.

gone are the days of simply being a survivor and calling for change. survivors need to learn the ropes of collective challanging in more effective ways than just 'screaming' 'I was abused' . Strategies are called for. planning and focus demanded.

This is what I learned from the Australian conference.

The individual story is of course powerful and necessary but the impact is transitory. Its impact to change nebulous.

What is needed is direct, specific demands based on justice and truth.

We must get these together and all sing from the same hymn sheet as they say. The common goal.

Australia was good. meeting brave fighters of survivors. Emma who favoured 'direct action' such as entering the bishops residence, sitting on his throne in church and basically creating embarrassment and havoc necessitating court appearances and being locked in a cell. Emma who pushed me in my wheelchair, Emma who cucified me in massage! Emma the 'one off - unique lovely peson'. Marco, the sculpturer, full of righteous anger, who stormed Vatican meetings desguised as a journalist and asked difficult questions, who stormed meetings with the Australian prime minister and did Ditto there. Marco who travelled Europe meeting survivors and travelled to Verona to meet the deaf survivors. Marco, wounded by clergy sexual abuse, using his own money to reach out and challange . good old Australian marco.

Nikki, intent on unity of purpose in the Australian survivor movement, who with Paul her partner want to set up a centre for survivors (something I long to do in Ireland) and education of professionals on survivor trauma.

Yes australia is moving.

and of course I had my treats there...whale watching...awesome...shopping...which i can't afford and generally exhausting myself. But it was a great experience and I hope I contributed in some small way to their understanding a form of sexual abuse not yet acknowedged. Clergy sexual abuse/exploitaion of adult women.

My powerpoint presentation is available if wanted . (magsken57@gmail.com)

May australian Survivors be supported by their 'colleagues in suffering' the worldwide survivor community. keep up the good work.

Margaret