Bishop says sorry for school abuse

Hugh Gilbert, the Bishop of Aberdeen, spoke to parishioners at Fort Augustus church
5 August 2013

One of Scotland's most senior Catholics has apologised to pupils amid claims of sexual and physical abuse by monks at a former boarding school in the Highlands.

Alleged victims who attended the Catholic Fort Augustus Abbey school told a BBC Scotland investigation that they were molested and beaten by monks over a period of three decades from the 1950s.

It has also been claimed that abuse was carried out at Carlekemp, its feeder school in East Lothian. Both schools are now closed.

Five men said on the Sins Of Our Fathers documentary, screened last Monday, that they were raped or sexually abused by Father Aidan Duggan, an Australian monk who taught at Carlekemp and Fort Augustus between 1953 and 1974. Fr Duggan died in 2004 but some abuse claims relate to men who are still alive. Police are investigating the allegations.

Hugh Gilbert, the Bishop of Aberdeen, said mass at Fort Augustus church today and addressed the issue in his homily.

He said: "It is a most bitter, shaming and distressing thing that in this former Abbey School a small number of baptised, consecrated and ordained Christian men physically or sexually abused those in their care.

"I know that Abbot Richard Yeo has offered an apology to those who have suffered such abuse and I join him in that. We are anxious that there be a thorough police investigation into all this. And, that all that can be done should be done for the victims. All of us must surely pray for those who have suffered.

"The Catholic Church in Scotland has been addressing this issue increasingly effectively in recent years. We want to work with all public bodies who care for the young and vulnerable adults.

"We wish to share our experience and share best practice so that lessons can be learned and children can always be fully protected."

A church spokesman said the Bishop did not see the BBC programme as he only returned from a pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro this week, but wanted to travel to Fort Augustus to personally speak to parishioners and "express his sorrow".

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