IT SEEMS the world has taken note of what Dandenong priest Father Anthony Guelen said last week about the media unfairly linking innocent priests to child abuse.
Fr Guelen’s comments have generated support and debate on popular Catholic website CathNews where a flurry of comments has appeared since the story’s publication last week.
One poster, named ‘Donrita,’ was full of praise for Fr Guelen’s comments.
“How overdue for someone to say this. Child sexual abuse can never, never be ignored or left unpunished. I am a mother of seven and can’t begin to imagine how horrified I’d be if I found my own child had been molested by someone I’d trusted.
“But it has to be recognised that the media does take extra pleasure in uncovering clerical abusers, especially Catholic ones.”
Another, by a Sue Norris, also supports Fr Guelen’s case.
“I wholeheartedly agree with Fr Guelen that priests and the Catholic church are being unduly targeted. From my profession I know of many cases of abuse within the home. Yet, these are all swept under the carpet. God bless Fr Guelen and all those men truly dedicated to God and his service.”
Check it out for yourself at www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=8252
The bell tolls for councillor
DANDENONG Ward councillor Jim Memeti must carry a fair bit of influence in the community.
At Monday night’s council meeting, he called for more firefighting resources in Dandenong South.
Within seconds, all those in the gallery could hear the sound of emergency services sirens drawing closer to the Dandenong council office.
Although a pure coincidence, it was quite a comical one.
Tip waste higher than limit
LOCAL anti-toxic waste group RATWISE believes it has sniffed out a breach of the Lyndhurst tip’s permit.
Campaigner Stuart Marriner was in the gallery at Monday night’s meeting where he asked council executives why the tip had stacked waste higher than its 24 metre limit, when the permit did not allow for it.
Development Services director Mal Baker said the tip’s operator, SITA Environmental Services, was arguing that the 24 metres would be achieved when the waste settled.
Mr Baker told the gallery that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) had issued a ‘please explain’ to the tip, asking for evidence that the settlement would occur.
