I have known about this apology and many others that were sent to complainants for some time – apparently cut and paste variations, all slightly different.
In talking with some of the survivors, they waited hoping that Mercy and Peter would have the integrity to make this announcement publicly.
I would have liked to have believed that Mercy and Peter would display real contrition for their actions, the abuse perpetrated on the women as well as their despicable behaviour after the scandal broke.
But that is not the case – true to evangelical and fundamentalist form saying sorry is all that you need to do, you don’t have to redress any wrongs, institute any changes. Just say sorry, beg forgiveness and carry on as usual. The media circus dies down and people forget, until it happens again.
If you don’t learn from your mistakes you are doomed to repeating them – providing that you think you are mistaken.
But on to the text of the letter which to my mind has probably passed across the desk of a lawyer more than once.
This letter is to serve as my apology to you for my comments to the Media in March 2008.
Odd wording isn’t it. Why not just start with "I’d like to apologise". Do I sense some resentment in the rather formal tone of the email? Was Peter coerced into writing this letter? He seemed so vehement in his talks to the media.
I regret my comments as they did not correctly reflect the situation. I value and respect your rights as an individual to communicate your concerns.
Values and respects her rights but not enough to make the apology publicly – the same forum in which you called her a psycho. Regret the comments as they did not reflect the situation – which was ? Interesting that this bland paragraph hints at the possibility of an admission but doesn’t quite say it.
Even though I am no longer with Mercy Ministries Australia, I can assure you the organisation has and always will take very seriously allegations and grievances of former residents.
What a crock! Taking the allegations seriously would be publicly admitting the abuse, being open and transparent and instituting a review that is publicly accessible/reported.
I wish you well in your future endeavours.
Yeah right, whatever.
So there you have it folks the closest you are probably ever going to get to an admission of the abuse that occurred at Mercy.
They will lie low and wait, wait until we forget. The storm for them will pass and as usual it’s the sick, the poor and the abused that will suffer again.
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Sean,
It breaks my heart that this is the best that he could do.
I realise that you don’t share my belief in God. I still love you.
But I wanted to post a scripture that came to my attention one day when I was praying about this unholy mess.
Proverbs 28:13
“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
I agree with you. The lawyers have undoubtedly been hard at work. These girls deserve so much better.
Tanya
Tanya,
Thanks for the love
. It would be nice if all who carried the label Christian acted like you. I think we both share a hope in the goodness of people though.
I don’t know if the proverb holds true, though would be nice if it did. Peter and his ilk seem to prosper quite well.
I prefer “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” (Edmund Burke)
and “Actions speak louder than words , but not nearly as often” (Mark Twain).
There can be no forgiveness without repentance. Saying sorry is not enough being and acting sorry is what is needed.
Unfortunately many charismatics/evangelicals seem to think that they must forgive once the apology is made.
The leadership of many churches know this, every time a scandal occurs the culprit says sorry, the congregation forgives and the perpetrator comes back when all has been forgotten to repeat it again.
Mercy has apologized to the girls Nancy flew out and smoothed things over but they have done nothing in terms of action to mend their ways.
The girls do deserve better, particularly from those who profess a message of love.
How are you traveling anyway, when I saw you in Alice you looked tired.
excuse my poor punctuation
The way I see it is, Peter (on behalf of MM) gave misinformation in the public domain. He bared false witness. And it wasn’t about something little, it was about ABUSE. Therefore, he and MM should apologise for his false information in the public domain he told them in.
A private apology (if that is what you can even call what he provided) is little more than self serving – an attempt to again play on the emotions of the vulnerable and to dodge the consequences of the wrong MM and Peter have done.
True repetence would see him and MM making a public apology for the ABUSE and the FALSE INFORMATION, and then making necessary changes to the program to ensure the abuse NEVER happens within MM again.
Forgiveness requires true repentence – something Peter and MM have not shown.
Instead, they have done exactly what many abusers do – deny the accusations and lie, lie, lie. Claim it didn’t happen. I would have thought a Christian organisation would hold itself to higher standards, would do the Biblical thing, what Jesus taught.
I know nobody and no organisation is perfect or beyond reproach, everybody makes mistakes. But these people have had since March to publicly admit their wrongdoing. I feel sad for them, and I feel sorry that they are so far from He whom they claim to follow.
apology to you for my comments to the Media in March 2008.
What a cop out. How about an apology for the actual abuse? That’s what’s important and what needs the healing. This may have removed the salt from the wound (although I doubt it), but the wound is still there.
Sean,
That’s the lousiest excuse for an apology I’ve ever heard. I get really depressed myself thinking of Mercy continueing to operate. I can’t imagine what the Mercy survivors are going through right now.
Best wishes,
John Weaver
John,
It would be good if the staff that perpetrated the abuse were charged with something.
Sean,
I agree. I know in the States, because of the laws we have, it would be difficult, but it seems like Australia would have a little more latitude in prosecuting this. At the very least, they could be charged with false advertising\providing of services.
Best wishes,
John