tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post7281673600028468371..comments2024-01-25T09:28:56.610+00:00Comments on Confessions of a skeptic: Father Gregory ChillmanJonathan Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00527063732905729010noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-71204686273096454542012-08-24T00:47:55.799+01:002012-08-24T00:47:55.799+01:00I believe in Father Gregg. He is a lovely man. I d...I believe in Father Gregg. He is a lovely man. I don't care what is said about him. I refuse to believe it. Whether you think I'm stupid or naive, I don't care. Everyone has a right to their own opinion and this is mine. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-8352030747469293942012-02-21T00:22:49.376+00:002012-02-21T00:22:49.376+00:00Okay may i please say that i was a pupil at St. Au...Okay may i please say that i was a pupil at St. Augustines until last year when I left because I thought it was time to try a different school. I grew up watching Fr. Gregory do our masses and he was always lovely, agreeable and sad things in a way that we would all understand. He compared life in the Bible to things that happened then and he made us laugh.<br />I was an altar server as soon as I was allowed and the only one in my entire year. He was always kind to me, listened and never did anything to make me uncomfortable.<br />My good friend's family are very good friends of his and alway see him. He is a lovely, kind and agreeable man. If you haven't met him then don't judge him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-27006210265673895322012-01-16T00:03:29.083+00:002012-01-16T00:03:29.083+00:00I am a former pupil of St: augustine´s and these s...I am a former pupil of St: augustine´s and these stories fo not surprise - particularly in relation to Father Gregory Chillman. He was rather predatory towards the girls and we would all comment that his attitude and approach towards us was wrong. However, as we were so young, we could not put into words or even conceive the extent of what his actions might actually mean. I was a pupil there from 1994-2001. Therefore, this gentleman´s actions in the school went on unreported (undetected?) for nearly two decades at St. Augustine´s. That is horrendous. Any teacher and or headteacher involved in turning a blind eye to such allegations should not be allowed to work with children.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-71691286586629851182011-11-12T21:48:22.734+00:002011-11-12T21:48:22.734+00:00l must amend the previous post. Although his name ...l must amend the previous post. Although his name is familiar, l don't remember John Maestri. l was confusing him with another teacher.<br /><br />PMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-28383693656901003262011-11-12T16:41:30.579+00:002011-11-12T16:41:30.579+00:00As a former pupil of St Benedict's, l entered ...As a former pupil of St Benedict's, l entered dubious of private education, and left convinced of its failures. This whole saga would not have been allowed to drag on for decades in the state sector. St Benedict's is a business which acts solely in its own interests.<br /><br />Thanks Jonathan for starting this site and the laborious process of holding these bastards to account. You're doing a great job.<br /><br />l knew most of the teachers referred to in this scandal, and though l was unaware at the time, l'm not surprised by the allegations about them. The only exception would have been John Maestri. He was one of the two or three decent teachers at the place and l would have trusted him. How does that happen?<br /><br />To my mind, the problem with St Benedict's is that those supporting the institution are trying to buy protection and privelege for their children from the harsh realities of life. This gives those in charge the power to hold parents/pupils to ransom. The separation of St Benedict's from the rest of the education system is its weakness. l can't believe that there are no parents on this site who are threatening to remove their children from either St Benedict's or St Augustine's. After all, this has been going on for more than two years.<br /><br />Perhaps someone can tell me if there have been similar scandals in the state sector, and if so, how many?<br /><br />l would also be interested to know how often the state scools inspectorate visit schools as opposed to the independent schools inspectorate.<br /><br />For myself, my education started when l left that exam factory and started nursing. <br /><br />PMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-74716826888655937272011-10-28T21:44:32.615+01:002011-10-28T21:44:32.615+01:00Grief - the answer to firstly the misconception an...Grief - the answer to firstly the misconception and then the question would require a forest!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-33184728397967063812011-10-22T11:27:43.524+01:002011-10-22T11:27:43.524+01:00I believe everybody is failing to address the fund...I believe everybody is failing to address the fundamental issues here. Firstly, this is a private school, parents are paying lots of money. They should all be sacked immediatly. Failing to protect the pupils from a potential child predator<br />Is unacceptable. Parents should not endorse this and pay for it.<br /><br />Secondly, some of us who decide to send kids to catholic schools are catholics<br />What is wrong with the church? How can these monsters still be allowed anywhere close to churches, let alone kids. The church should adopt a zero tolerance policy and immediately sack any priest suspected of misbehaviourAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-6759085692823975472011-10-20T22:25:55.420+01:002011-10-20T22:25:55.420+01:0021.05 - safeguarding is everyone's business ac...21.05 - safeguarding is everyone's business according to the DfE, Ofsted, ISI, NSPCC,and many others including the children's minister. <br /><br />It is a simple fact as the DfE will confirm, that the only people that can hold an independent school to account for its performance on all matters including safeguarding are the parents. Sadly few parents ever read safeguarding policies, and they know almost nothing about the statutory framework, or the subject. Most believe they don’t need to know because child abuse always happen to others. Wrong! <br /><br />At yesterday's Select Committee meeting on child protection Jim Gamble the former boss of CEOPS emphasised the need for parental training - something that CEOPS was rolling out until the foolish move by the Home Secretary to remove its independence by including it into the National Crime Agency. As a result of the move CEOPS is no longer the ‘specialist’ child protection operation it was because officers can now be drafted from their dedicated child protection role onto other duties for the NCA. And since the move the extensive ‘in school’ parental training has been dropped. <br /><br />The coalition government is vandalising the very limited statutory framework, that is meant to but fails to protect children, a view common among many child organisations in the third sector. This makes it even more important that parents engage with safeguarding by dropping the complacency so elegantly expressed by 21.05.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-68337572669058055732011-10-20T21:15:40.019+01:002011-10-20T21:15:40.019+01:0021:05 - If you think that anything I have written ...21:05 - If you think that anything I have written is factually incorrect, then I would be grateful if you would put me right.<br /><br />Otherwise, I can only conclude that you regard what I've written as being true but unwelcome. I'm wholly biased in favour of the truth.Jonathan Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00527063732905729010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-86684041721651098482011-10-20T21:05:48.359+01:002011-10-20T21:05:48.359+01:00I find it interesting that you have such a vendett...I find it interesting that you have such a vendetta against St Benedict's and have appointed yourself Saviour of all these poor souls. You are blighting what is an amazing school for some personal gripe. Perhaps your time would be better spent trying to portray an UNBIASED and balanced view of the circumstances. This is clearly the work of a wannabe journalist. Perhaps you should've worked for Murdoch.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-29129314595000677792011-10-20T17:27:52.563+01:002011-10-20T17:27:52.563+01:00That womans skin must be as thick as a rhinocerous...That womans skin must be as thick as a rhinocerous skin, how can she hold her head?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-68861355746243257872011-10-20T15:27:30.532+01:002011-10-20T15:27:30.532+01:00Nothing obviously, somethings never change, all Go...Nothing obviously, somethings never change, all Governors should be elected by the parents why haven't all her friends been asked to stand down and replaced by Governors elected by the parents.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-82628279891207713842011-10-20T15:07:39.649+01:002011-10-20T15:07:39.649+01:00What are the 2 parent governors, we elected, doing...What are the 2 parent governors, we elected, doing about this farce?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-16994162351608165742011-10-20T14:49:49.407+01:002011-10-20T14:49:49.407+01:00Abbot Martin and Gumley are obviously bosom buddie...Abbot Martin and Gumley are obviously bosom buddies!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-50953563847938037712011-10-20T14:41:51.588+01:002011-10-20T14:41:51.588+01:00This is a crazy situation. It would appear that Ab...This is a crazy situation. It would appear that Abbot Martin Shipperlee has over ruled Peter Turner (Diocese of Westminster Safeguarding Advisor) and lifted the restrictions on Father Gregory Chillman.<br /> <br />As far as I am aware, Abbot Martin has no particular training or expertise in safeguarding, in fact he clearly demonstrated his lack of competence in this field when he failed to supervise Father David Pearce when restrictions were placed on his ministry.<br /><br />In spite of everything, Abbot Martin seems to think that he knows better than the experts. What breathtaking arrogance!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-82551442227334034342011-10-20T14:33:06.713+01:002011-10-20T14:33:06.713+01:00I agree the Governors and Trustees have to take re...I agree the Governors and Trustees have to take responsibility for the dreadful wrong doings at the school. Who are they answerable to?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-65438055839414605912011-10-20T14:19:21.478+01:002011-10-20T14:19:21.478+01:00Why were the trustees and governors of St Augustin...Why were the trustees and governors of St Augustines together with the headmistress Mrs Gumley Mason allowed to retain Chillman in such a position?. Cover up after cover up. I sinceley hope that no girls at St Augustine's have been effected by the managements apparent disregard of the evidence and allowed Chillman to remain insitu. <br />It has been said many times on this blog but the trustees, governors and Gumley Mason should all diciplined for their failures.<br />Thank goodness that, at least, they are kicking Gumley mason out, but they should all be made to answer for the failings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-53676987300679919862011-10-20T14:12:32.225+01:002011-10-20T14:12:32.225+01:00Mrs Gumley Mason tried everything to stop the trut...Mrs Gumley Mason tried everything to stop the truth coming out regarding Father Gregory, why is she still at the school, she has proven herself not to be trustworthy, she is deceitful, incapable of telling the truth, and yet the Governors are allowing her to remain at St.Augustine's till the end of term.<br />Why?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com