Revelation (TV series)

Revelation is a three-episode Australian documentary series directed by Nial Fulton and Sarah Ferguson. The series was released on ABC in March 2020. In a world television first, the producers took cameras into the criminal trials of Catholic priests accused of sex crimes against children and interviewed Father Vincent Ryan and Brother Bernard McGrath, two of the most prolific and notorious paedophiles in Australia.

Revelation
GenreDocumentary
Written byTony Jones
Directed byNial Fulton, Sarah Ferguson
Presented bySarah Ferguson
ComposerHelena Czajka
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes3
Production
ProducerNial Fulton
Production locationsAustralia, Ireland, United States, New Zealand, Italy
Cinematography
  • Aaron Smith
  • Richard Kendrick
  • Martin McGrath
Editors
  • Lile Judickas
  • Philippa Rowlands
Production companyIn Films
Release
Original networkAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
Original releaseMarch 17, 2020 (2020-03-17) –
2 April 2020 (2020-04-02)

The series culminates in the Vatican, with the story of Cardinal George Pell, a Catholic cleric accused of abusing boys in an orphanage in Australia.[1][2]

Production

The series was produced by In Films,[3] and was shot in the Vatican, Ireland, New Zealand and multiple locations around Australia, including the notorious Catholic Dioceses of Ballarat and Maitland/Newcastle.

Following lengthy negotiations, the producers were granted permission to bring cameras into New South Wales District Court to film the 2019 child sex abuse criminal trails of Father Vincent Ryan and Brother Bernard McGrath. Ryan's trial was filmed over six weeks and McGrath's over a seven-month period. It was the first time anywhere in the world cameras had been allowed into a clerical child abuse trial. Both Ryan and McGrath consented to their trials being recorded for the series.

In another television first, Corrective Services granted permission for a four-person film crew to enter a maximum security prison to interview Bernard McGrath, a former member of the Catholic religious order St John of God. McGrath is serving a 39-year prison sentence for scores of sex offences against young boys under his care in Kendall Grange, New South Wales.

Broadcast

Episode 1 was broadcast on 17 March 2020 on the ABC. Episode 2 was postponed due to the Prime Minister's televised address to the nation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and went to air on 31 March. Episode 3 was screened two days later on 2 April.[4][5]

Key people

Episode 1: "The Children have been used by the Devil"

  • Father Vincent Ryan - convicted paedophile priest, Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle
  • Gerard McDonald - victim of Vincent Ryan
  • Peter Dorn - victim of Vincent Ryan
  • Scott Hallett - victim of Vincent Ryan
  • Bill Burston - Catholic priest, Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle
  • Troy Grant - former police officer
  • Michael King - Vincent Ryan's barrister
  • David Patch - Crown prosecutor, Ryan 2019 trial
  • William Wright - current bishop of Maitland-Newcastle
  • Dina Yehia - New South Wales District Court judge
  • Mary McAleese - former President of Ireland
  • Colm O'Gorman - Irish survivor of clerical abuse

Eisode 2: "A Dangerous Place to be a Child"

  • Vincent Ryan - convicted paedophile Catholic priest, Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle
  • Audrey Nash - former friend of Vincent Ryan, mother of Andrew Nash
  • Andrew Nash (archive) - 13-year-old schoolboy who took his own life following sexual abuse
  • Geoffrey Nash - Andrew Nash's older brother
  • Bernard McGrath - convicted paedophile brother, Hospitaller Order of St John of God
  • Paul Andreassen - victim of Bernard McGrath
  • Jason Van Dyke - victim of Bernard McGrath
  • Paul - victim of Bernard McGrath
  • Phil Hogan - Crown prosecutor, McGrath 2019 trial
  • Gina O'Rourke - judge, New South Wales District Court
  • Sean Buckley - former New Zealand detective
  • Michelle Mulvihill - former psychologist, St John of God
  • Kristi Faber - detective sergeant, NSW Police
  • William Wright - current bishop of Maitland-Newcastle
  • Bill Burston - Catholic priest, Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle
  • Brian Lucas - Catholic priest
  • Maurice Cahill - Catholic priest
  • Diarmuid Martin - Archbishop of Dublin, Ireland
  • Mary McAleese - former President of Ireland
  • Colm O'Gorman - Irish survivor of clerical abuse
  • Joanne McCarthy - journalist

Episode 3: - "Goliath"

Reception

Critical response

The series met with positive reviews. Holly Byrnes of the Daily Telegraph (Sydney) wrote that "Walkley award-winning journalist Sarah Ferguson has delivered some of the best TV journalism this country has ever witnessed, but Revelation might just be the pinnacle." [6] Bridget McManus from The Age (Melbourne) gave it a four out of five star rating, calling it a "searing documentary series".[7][8] Brigid Delaney, a senior writer for the Guardian Australia, wrote "You'll need a strong stomach to digest Revelation's insights into child sexual abuse in the Catholic church."[9]

In The Australian Graeme Blundell wrote ...although it is often difficult to watch, Ferguson and her exemplary production team, including executive producer Nial Fulton, principal cinematographer Aaron Smith and researchers Sophie Randerson, Kate Wild and Alison McClymont, have been able to shed light not only on their heinous atrocities but how the Catholic Church repeatedly chose secrecy over transparency and accountability. It is a confronting, awful study of a church that not only fell to decay but seems beyond renewal, achingly absent of integrity and grace.

Blundell praises Ferguson for her restraint, saying ...the interviews she conducts, initially with Ryan and later with Bernard McGrath, a former St John of God brother, teacher and headmaster in residential schools in Australia and New Zealand, serving 39 years for crimes against children, are harrowing and disturbing as she provokes and exposes a web of conspiracy and perversion. She tries to display no explicit emotion as she questions Ryan but can only just conceal her ethical disgust behind that journalistic veneer of taut self-control. [10]

The series won the prestigious Walkley Documentary Award [11] on 20 November 2020. The Judge's citation read: “This haunting documentary broke new ground on an issue already well covered by the media and investigated by police and the Royal Commission alike. The extraordinary access to some of the Catholic Church’s most notorious perpetrators of sexual abuse against children, as well as the insight it gave viewers into court proceedings, showed just how powerful journalistic documentary-making can be.“ [12]

In December 2020, Revelation won Best Documentary Series at the Asian Academy Creative Awards. [13] [14]

Controversy

Despite the fact his own newspaper, the Herald Sun, broke the story about George Pell's alleged sexual abuse of children in 2016 Andrew Bolt, Newscorp columnist and outspoken supporter of George Pell attacked the ABC and the filmmakers, claiming the series was part of a 'witch-hunt' against Pell. Following Pell's acquittal, other vocal supporters of Pell, including Miranda Devine and Gerard Henderson, condemned those who had reported on the story [15] Numerous Newscorp journalists made the claim the ABC's reporting on the Pell case was 'one-sided' and 'biased.'

Greg Craven, the vice-chancellor of the Australian Catholic University and long-time friend of Pell, accused the ABC and police of "polluting" the legal atmosphere around the cardinal's Victorian trial. [16] The ABC responded to Craven's allegations that the broadcaster had intentionally brought forward Episode 3 of Revelation in an attempt to influence the High Court. Craven's allegations were proven to be false and he subsequently resigned. [17]

The ABC responded to the Newscorp claims, stating, The ABC has always acted in the public interest in reporting on the police investigation into Cardinal George Pell and in investigating other allegations made against him. The ABC firmly rejects claims that it pursued a “witch hunt” against Cardinal Pell, that it engaged in “vigilante” journalism or that it’s coverage was one-sided or unfair.

The Guardian journalist Margaret Simmons also formed the view that the ABC's reporting on Pell did not 'step over the line.' [18]


Awards and nominations
Awards and nominations
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result
Walkley Awards November, 2020 Documentary Award Sarah Ferguson, Nial Fulton, Tony Jones Won
Walkley Awards November, 2020 Television Camerawork (Episode 3) Aaron Smith Nominated
Asian Academy Creative Awards December, 2020 Best Documentary Series Sarah Ferguson, Nial Fulton, Tony Jones Won
Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards November, 2020 Best Editing in a Documentary (Episode 3) Philippa Rowlands Nominated
Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards November, 2020 Best Cinematography in a Documentary (Episode 1) Aaron Smith, Andy Taylor, Martin McGrath Nominated
Australian Cinematographers Society Awards November, 2020 Gold Award (Episode 3) Aaron Smith Won
Australian Screen Editors November, 2020 Best Editing in a Documentary (Episode 3) Philippa Rowlands Won
Asian Academy Creative Awards November, 2020 Best Documentary Series (National Winner) Sarah Ferguson, Nial Fulton, Tony Jones Won
Florence Films Awards November, 2020 Best Editing Philippa Rowlands Won
Florence Film Awards November, 2020 Best Original Score Helena Czajka Won
Spotlight Documentary Film Awards January, 2021 Gold Award Sarah Ferguson, Nial Fulton, Tony Jones Won

Response from the Catholic Church

Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle responded to the imminent release of the series by issuing an open letter to their parishioners attempting to justify their failure to have convicted paedophile priest Father Vincent Ryan laicised. This was subsequently followed by a more detailed press release, including a timeline of Ryan's offending, Bishop Leo Clarkes failure to respond to Ryan's abuse, the treatment of the Nash family and Father William Burston.[19]

Following the broadcast, a plaque celebrating the life of Bishop Leo Clarke was removed from the Maitland Cathedral and an internal Catholic investigation was launched by Bishop Bill Wright regarding Father Bill Burston's interview, who told Sarah Ferguson he thought the suicide of 13-year-old Andrew Nash in 1974 was a '...prank gone wrong.' [20][21]

Wright confirmed the internal investigation had concluded 'some time ago' and that Burston has voluntarily agreed to not to perform mass or other church rituals. Audrey Nash had not been notified about the outcome of the investigation.

The Royal Commission Case Study 43 was released in October 2020 and found that Burston knew in 1976 that there had been a complaint of 'sexually inappropriate behaviour' against notorious paedophile priest Father Vincent Ryan.[22]

Roman Catholic Diocese of Ballarat

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Ballarat, Paul Bird, issued a press release on 17 March warning parishioners that they might find some of the material in the show confronting and painful.[23]

St John of God

On 7 April 2020, the hospitaller order of the Brothers of St John of God posted a statement about the series on their website.[24] The order did not deny the allegations that they had prior knowledge of Bernard McGrath's sexual offending against children under his care and moved him from Australia to New Zealand and later to the notorious Jemez Springs treatment facility run by the Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete in New Mexico, United States.[25]

Archdiocese of Sydney

On 2 April 2020, the Archdiocese of Sydney responded to the allegations raised against Cardinal George Pell in episode 3 of the series by issuing a short press release.[26]

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateLength (minutes)
1"The Children Have Been Used by the Devil"Nial Fulton, Sarah FergusonSarah Ferguson, Tony Jones17 March 2020 (2020-03-17)87
2"A Dangerous Place To Be A Child"Nial Fulton, Sarah FergusonTony Jones29 March 2020 (2020-03-29)90
3"Goliath"Nial Fulton, Sarah FergusonTony Jones2 April 2020 (2020-04-02)102

See also

References
  1. "Amazing Stories and news-making exposés: March TV and streaming". 2020-03-01. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  2. S, John; March 18th, eman; Comments, 2020 07:51 am. "'Learn. Protect your children from clergy.' The ABC's Revelation reveals a tragic story - Eternity News". Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  3. Meade, Amanda (2020-04-08). "ABC to re-edit and restore George Pell episode of Revelation as News Corp goes on attack". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  4. https://help.abc.net.au/hc/en-us/articles/360001426436-How-can-I-watch-Revelation-
  5. https://tvtonight.com.au/2020/03/beyond-the-pale.html
  6. https://www.revelationdocumentary.com
  7. McManus, Bridget (2020-03-28). "TV for Tuesday, March 29". Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  8. McManus, Bridget (2020-03-14). "Critic's Choice for March 15". Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  9. Delaney, Brigid (2020-03-16). "You'll need a strong stomach to digest Revelation's insights into child sexual abuse in the Catholic church". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  10. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/abc-revelation-sarah-ferguson-faces-monsters-in-our-midst/news-story/0ff5e2adef7d0373e28ed3d876ee5b11
  11. https://www.adnews.com.au/news/walkley-award-winners-2020
  12. https://www.walkleys.com/award-winners/sarah-ferguson-nial-fulton-and-tony-jones/
  13. https://variety.com/2020/tv/asia/asian-academy-creative-awards-crash-landing-on-you-garden-of-evening-mists-1234846217/
  14. https://www.mediaweek.com.au/bluey-wins-again-this-time-asian-academy-creative-award/
  15. https://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/episodes/pell/12166274
  16. https://www.abc.net.au/radio/melbourne/programs/drive/greg-craven-takes-aim-at-police,-abc/12132456
  17. http://about.abc.net.au/correcting-the-record/correction-to-greg-cravens-column-in-the-australian/
  18. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/apr/15/andrew-bolt-and-the-abc-did-the-reporting-on-george-pell-step-over-a-line
  19. Maitland-Newcastle, Catholic Diocese of. "Detailed communication in support of Bishop Bill Wright's open letter to the People of the Diocese". www.mn.catholic.org.au. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  20. https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/6981723/bishop-wright-disciplines-catholic-father-bill-burston-but-nash-family-say-its-not-enough/
  21. https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/6691616/apology-isnt-enough-says-family-after-priests-shock-view-of-boys-death/
  22. https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/6976705/most-of-our-friends-are-dead-case-study-43-reveals-a-network-of-lies-and-cover-ups-inside-the-church/
  23. "Catholic Diocese of Ballarat". www.ballarat.catholic.org.au. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  24. "Statement by the St John of God Brothers Regarding the ABC Documentary Revelation. The Hospitaller Order of St John of God Oceania Province". Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  25. "St John of God Letter" (PDF). abc.net.au. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  26. "Revelation Statement Cardinal Pell" (PDF). abc.net.au. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
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