The College advocates strongly that any past student who has allegations of sexual abuse, or who witnessed sexual abuse while a student at Villanova College contacts the police directly.
APOLOGY ON BEHALF OF THE AUGUSTINIANS IN AUSTRALIA (December 2018)
The recent Royal Commission into Sexual Abuse of Children in Institutional Care has brought to focus the harm that has been done in institutional settings including within the Catholic community. While many people regularly express their gratitude for the benefits they have received from the pastoral care of Augustinians, this message today has a different purpose.
On behalf of my brother Augustinians, I express sorrow for the distress caused to any child or young person because of the harmful actions of members of our Augustinian Order. The consequences of such harm are deep and enduring. There are those who suffer harm directly, their families and faith communities.
The Augustinians will endeavour to approach the dignity of each person, most especially the young, with respect and integrity. Along with the whole Australian Church, we commit ourselves to policies and programmes which are consistent with such respect and integrity.
I also wish to extend an invitation to anyone who has suffered harm as a young person because of the actions of members of our Augustinian Order to seek to have the Order listen to their story. In all of this we pray together for all concerned but most especially for those whose lives have been wounded by harm. For all we pray for healing that restores hope.
Fr Peter Jones
OSA Prior Provincial Order of St Augustine Province of Australasia
