February 28, 2006

Church rules out investigating paedophile activity

AUSTRALIA
ABC

Tuesday, 28 February 2006. 17:07 (AEDT)Tuesday, 28 February 2006. 16:07 (ACST)Tuesday, 28 February 2006. 16:07 (AEST)Tuesday, 28 February 2006. 17:07 (ACDT)Tuesday, 28 February 2006. 14:07 (AWST)

The Catholic Church has refused to launch an investigation into paedophile activity on the north-west coast of Tasmania.

Child protection advocates made the request after a 70-year-old priest and teacher, Roger Michael Bellemore, was convicted of assaulting four boys at Burnie's Marist College in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The Archbishop of Hobart, Adrian Doyle, says investigating criminal activity is a matter for police.

"I think they've got the experience and they've got the expertise to carry out these investigations," he said.

Posted by kshaw at February 28, 2006 08:29 AM