Sister Bernard Mary Murray

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Nun Saddened by Accusations
By DEIDRE MUSSEN

A nun accused of sexually and physically abusing needy children more than 40 years ago says the complainants have convinced themselves the incidents happened.

Sister Bernard Mary, 69, who now lives in Christchurch, says she feels saddened rather than angry about her accusers.

She says she first heard of the complaints stemming from her time at the Sisters of Nazareth's home in Brisbane when she was the congregation's worldwide head in England three years ago.

After interviews with London police, they told her they would recommend dropping the case.

"I wasn't surprised because (the allegations) were so outrageous - some of them were impossible."

It was the last time she heard from police.

But some of the alleged victims went public with their claims in recent months in Australia, thrusting her into the limelight.

Intrigue was added last year when the order told a court hearing into abuse allegations that Sister Bernard was dead, later explained as an administrative mistake.

She denies abusing children but says discipline was tougher in those days in all sectors of the community.

"Say you had 50 or 60 children, you've got to have a bit more discipline than for one or two.

"The children had some rules and regulations they were expected to keep."

Some of the children came from broken families, some were unwanted, some orphaned.
They ranged in age from five to 16.

Sister Bernard Mary has fond memories of her time at Brisbane's Nazareth House from 1958 to 1962 - fun outings with the children to the beach and other places.

She is yet to meet any of her accusers.
"I feel more sorry for them rather than angry with them. They sort of can convince themselves that these things happened."

The Sisters of Nazareth have apologised but denies any abuse occurred. Hindsight hasn't changed the way Sister Bernard Mary would act but living with intense public scrutiny has been a struggle.

Stress and broken sleep are frequent companions.
"The thing that really keeps me going is I'm not guilty and I have a clear conscience.

"And I've had tremendous support from others who were children in Nazareth House, great support from people in Christchurch, my family and other members of the congregation."

She became head of Christchurch's Narareth House, an 80-bed rest home, in February last year for three years, which may be extended a further three years.

Sister Bernard Mary's faith remains stronger than ever. "It makes you pray a little bit harder," she says. So are others.

At mass yesterday, the priest told her he would offer a prayer for her to help her face an interview with the Sunday Star-Times.

Sister Bernard Mary originally trained as a primary school teacher but soon changed direction. Sisters of Nazareth had two homes for the needy in her home town, Ballarat.

"You would always see the sisters with the children.

"I realised that's what I wanted to do - look after those sort of children.

"As well as that, that was what God wanted me to do. It's just something that you sort of know," she smiles.

Unwanted Nazareth House Children

Sister Bernard Mary, Well I am saddened but most of all I am angry about the abusers who are in denial from the abuse they did on the children boys/girls in their care in the Nazareth House Orphanages all over the world.

Why did you not come forward when you were in England and heard the complaints as you say from Brisbane, when you were worldwide head of Nazareth House, you heard and were still alive and yet you still did not come forward.

Of course the abuser is always surprise when they first hear us call their names. We shout from the hill tops while you still hide inside Nazareth House and behind the Roman Catholic Church.

You must have heard and seen the news about your death, because in that year, you were then sent over to Nazareth House New Zealand.

Well to think that you are having broken sleep because of your clear conscience is very rear indeed.

What about us, the children boys/girls who were abuse by the Nazareth House nuns/priest who have had broken night sleeps as children in your care and still every night have these bad dreams, which you the Nazareth House nun/priest have caused to us.

And then you hit the nail on the head by saying : Some of the children were from broken homes, some were unwanted and some orphaned.

You say some were unwanted and that is just how we felt, while at Nazareth House, you had kept that with you all these years, just like we did, the unwanted children always knew about this and Sister Bernard Mary Murray, that was never news for us.

The Nazareth House unwanted children boys/girls, this has come from your lips and it was shown to us as little children that we were not wanted by any one, especial from the Nazareth House nun/priest and the Roman Catholic Church.

"I realized that's what I wanted to do - look after those sort of children.

This has hit me with such force,

THE UNWANTED CHILDREN OF NAZARETH HOUSE and
LOOK AFTER THOSE SORT OF CHILDREN.

What the hell do you think we were. NOT GOD'S CHILDREN, OH! NO. WE WERE THE DEVIL'S CHILDREN JUST LIKE YOU NAZARETH HOUSE NUNS/PRIEST TOLD US WE WERE AND THAT WAS HOW YOU TREATED US.