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Benedictines slam bias of media The Superior of the Benedictine Order has lashed out at what he calls "disgraceful journalism", press abuse and 'slant' in relation to monastery affairs.
The two hotspots which the media has highlighted in the past year or two have been the Benedictine Mission at Kalum buru and the sale of the adjacent Carson River Station for $600,000.
semi-wild cattle on it. ments from the Catholic Commission "In doing this, the ABC prevented • It was bought for three reasons — on Justice and Peace. the other side of the story from being 1 ) to keep undesirable people from "The Commission appears to conanswered adequately and I am sure coming too close to the mission: 2) to demn someone without even giving that to those watching it would appear employ and to train the Aborigines him a hearing...somewhat strange t o have been the truth of the matter, and 3) to pass it onto them if they isn't it?" but it was definitely not." showed any interest in working it and Father Justin said no objectivelyFather Justin pointed out that the were able to manage it. minded member of the public could press and media had a duty to publish • With the road to the mission open- ignore the figures and claim that the and report in an unbiased and fair ing up and the Aborigines obtaining Benedictines had done anythin g they manner. unemployment benefits, they showed could be ashamed of. Facts distorted "There is a great deal of unprofesa disinclin ation to work on Carson "When no-one cared• about the sionalism with regard to journalism Station. He was grieved to think That the these days and this is to be lamented." Aborigines, the Benedictines went • No Aborigines ever worked in Car- north and cared for them media could use the maxim "freedom he said. in dangerson without being paid a fair wage ous and deprived circumstances," of the press" to distort the facts and "I do uphold the rale of the freedom he accordin g to age and ability. fail so obviously to use every means at of the press, but I do not uphold it said. "At no time did the media bring out • The vast majority of Kalumb their disposal to present the truth when they deliberately set out to slant uru "We stood by them in good times the fact that a few years ago the then Aborigines did not show any interest and bad without any Government objectively. the facts. Abbot Rooney offered the Aborigines either in Carson River Station or in assistance. And when the Japanese Father Justin referred specifically to "For instance, many of the points at the mission control of the reserve the Aboriginal reserve adjacent to the bombed the mission we the ABC Nationwide programme last made on Nationwide were simply not died with our and last August the Benedictines offi- Mission. month which carried filmed inter- true, they were false, but did they black brothers." cially gave the Aborigines the freehold • In June, 1981, a million dollars was views dealing with Kalumburu attempt to check them out? "No!" The then Superior of the Mission, on which the aerodrome and their offered for Carson Station. Mission. Father Thomas Gil died clutching two He said the press had "sensational- houses are built. • To appease opposition the Bene"The programme was badly ised" the monks withdrawal at the end "We love the Aborigines and dictine community at New Norcia Aboriginal children in his arms. researched and the ABC used only the of the year from Kalumburu. Father Justin said the Benedictines wouldn't do anything to hurt or requested the prospective buyer to still had a very good relationship with sensationalist pieces and didn't bother embarrass them." drop his option when Canberra t he Aborigines at to check their facts or figures with us. Kalumburu and Father Justin outlined the following became interested. Ear/v intention "At the very last minute when the most of them had wanted the Order to facts concerning Carson River • New Norcia dropped its price tag to programme was due to be broadcast, remain. "As far back as 1974 we intended Station: $600,000 which, in fact, did not cover Nationwide contacted me and asked if pulling "It is influences from outside which out of the Mission and as early • The Carson River Station was the amount of time, money, effort and have stirred up all this recent trouble I would like to give our side of the as last year I was engaged in further bought by the Benedictines for the sweat put into develop ment. To and I believe that in the end the ones story. talks with the Bishop of Broome sum of money which the owner had replace the improvements would cost who will suffer most are the Abori"When I did appear on the pro- towards handing it over to his con- requested — not just $1,000 or $2,000 $1.25m. gines," he said. gramme, they pumped me with a ser- trol," he said. (as reported by certain sections of the Father Justin said if this information ies of questions which I did my best to "In making this statement I am not "The press never stated this and media), but for 10,000 pounds. had been requested the Benedictines out to blow the Benedic answer, but at no stage did they allow tine trumpet, linked the situation with the sale of • This was more than fair price con- would have been only too happy to but to set the matters straight for the me time to answer the critics who had nearby Carson River Station in order sidering that it was totally undeve- supply it. appeared before me. public. In the end, truth will win to heighten the sensationalism. loped and only had a few head of He said he was surprised at state- out..." The Superior, Reverend Father Justin Bruce, O.S.B. spoke to The Record this week from New Norcia and stated bluntly that in so doing he wished to correct the erroneous opinion which the media has possibly created in the minds of many of the public.
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A t last weekend's state conference of the Knights of the Southern Cross, Max Bowen (left) was appointedbra third term as state chairm an. He is pictured with new state councillors (left to right) Neville Dobson, John Negus, Ken Tulley, John Edgar and Mick Scott. The other new councillor is John Pronk. (Reports and pictures on page 3.)
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