Lessons from an allegation

This newspaper received a flood of letters in the wake of reports about an allegation of sexual abuse against the late Bishop Reginald Orsmond of Johannesburg, stemming from a time when he was a priest serving the Boys Town institution which he founded.

The allegation, made in an autobiography by journalist Mario D’Offizi, was covered in the Sunday press. The Southern Cross subsequently ran a report containing a statement by the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference in response to the claim.

Showing that the matter evoked strong emotions, one KwaZulu-Natal priest went as far as to ban the sale of that edition in his parish, notwithstanding the opening line of the report, which quotes the bishops’ conference in its endeavour to guide the Catholic community.

The correspondence we received represented a wide range of views.

Some expressed dismay at what they believed to be a calumny against Bishop Orsmond, who died in 2002 and cannot defend himself. A few correspondents were evidently so upset as to express themselves with uncompromising language. Others yet saw Mr D’Offizi’s allegation as part of a smear campaign against the Catholic Church.

Many others were careful not to condemn either Bishop Orsmond or Mr D’Offizi outrightly some of these communications have been published.

Others yet said they believed Mr D’Offizi’s account on the basis of rumours they claim to have heard over the years.

Not much can be gained by speculation. There are only two people who could have known with certainty what transpired in that room at Boys Town. One of them is no longer among us. Mr D’Offizi’s version of events can therefore not be challenged from a position of knowledge of the facts. We can choose to give credence to the author’s account, or to be dubious. We cannot, however, call him a liar, unless we have knowledge to support such an assertion.

Whatever the veracity of Mr D’Offizi’s account, it seems clear that he has long forgiven the man who he says abused him. Indeed, he remained in contact with him even after leaving Boys Town.

Mr D’Offizi’s revelations, if one admits them to be credible, would not constitute a smear against the Church we can hardly deny the incidence of sexual abuse by some of its personnel. Indeed, we may find in it a lesson in the Christian virtue of forgiveness. Rather than challenging why it took Mr D’Offizi so long to come forward with his claims, we ought to reflect on what lessons can be learned from his story.

One may argue that it is unjust to the memory of Bishop Orsmond and to his family, friends and priests that Mr D’Offizi should recall the alleged abuse after the bishop’s death, when he cannot deny or admit them.

At the same time, if what the author says is true, then he must be allowed to exercise primacy over his own memories. If they are not true, then Mr D’Offizi will have to bear in his conscience the commission of a grave injustice.

When we reflect on the claims by Mr D’Offizi, we will do well to be guided by the tone and content of the bishops’ wise statement:

All will be hurting due to these allegations. We all hope that whatever processes are undertaken, justice may be served to the benefit of all affected.

The bishops called on all people to pray for both Mr D’Offizi and the family of the late bishop. In the absence of any conclusive substantiation of Mr D’Offizi’s claim, this is the most Christ-like response we can offer.