Arson attacks on churches with abuse connections

Arsonists are suspected of attacking three Catholic churches in the Archdiocese of Melbourne associated with late paedophile priests Ronald Pickering and Kevin O’Donnell during Holy Week, with one, the historic St James’ church in Brighton, gutted, writes Mark Brolly. The Church and the Victoria Police downplayed connecting the fires at St James’ and St Mary’s in St Kilda East on 30 March and St Mary’s Dandenong on 1 April with the abuse crisis, although police said all three were being treated as suspicious.

Shane Healy, director of media and communications for the archdiocese, said that until more was known, it was “best not to speculate”. Golden Globe-winning actor Rachel Griffiths, a former parishioner of St James’, told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio that she was “quite elated, like many of my generation” by the fire at the Brighton church, given its connection with Pickering. “For the community here, it’s kind of the haunted house on the hill,” she said.