Why is a parishioner angry at her parish's name change?

Helen Watson's son Peter was abused by the convicted paedophile at age 15 at the Ararat presbytery. Mrs Watson remembers her once happy son's demeanour changing over night.

Five years later Peter told his mother what had happened to him. Sadly, he took his own life at age 24.

Ryan is facing charges in a parish in Virginia Beach in the US. Mrs Watson hopes he is extradited to face the charges. She said the hurt the priest had caused was unforgivable. That's why she has slammed a name change after the merger of five south-west churches.

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The parish is now known as Star of the Sea - the same name of the parish where Ryan is facing charges in the US. "I'm just blown away," Mrs Watson said.

"The Catholic Church has no idea. They know the damage he did at the Star of the Sea."

Mrs Watson said the name change was another slap in the face for survivors and victims of clergy abuse.

She said the church had attempted to minimise and hide the actions of paedophile priests in the past by moving them from parish to parish.

"I just think this is an insult to victims," she said.

"Star of the Sea was Ryan's playground - why would you use that name for a place of respect and honour and Catholicism - they should have known better."

Mrs Watson said the parish should rethink the new name.

She said she would continue to implore Ryan to confess to abusing her son by writing to him in jail.

Two clergy abuse victims last week expressed their dismay at the parish's name change.

St Joseph's Parish priest John Fitzgerald acknowledged their concerns.

"Any concerns raised are really important," he said. "I know different things can trigger deep heart-felt emotion in people, especially victims."

Father Fitzgerald said parishioners in each of the churches were asked to suggest names. He said the majority of people wanted to celebrate the area's connection to the sea.

"We wanted to be faithful to those who put forward a name," he said. "However, it is unfortunate that there is a connection there."

Churches included in the new parish include St Joseph's in Warrnambool, St Pius X in Warrnambool, Infant Jesus in Koroit, St Patrick's in Port Fairy and St Anne's in Purnim.

The Diocese of Ballarat was contacted for comment.

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