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	Bishop Tells of Letter By Mark Oberhardt Courier Mail [Australia] November 2, 2006 http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20689902-3102,00.html An Anglican priest accused of molesting a teenage boy 30 years ago asked his replacement in the parish to ignore rumours about his behaviour, a court heard. The evidence came from bishop of the western region, Robert Nolan, one of two high-ranking Anglican priests who gave evidence yesterday in the trial of Robert Francis Sharwood, the former curate of St Matthews church at Sherwood, in Brisbane's west. Sharwood, now 62, is on trial for child-sex offences allegedly committed between 1974 and 1976. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault, carnal knowledge against the order of nature, permitting carnal knowledge against the order of nature, and gross indecency. Before evidence was called Judge Fleur Kingham told the jury that Sharwood had pleaded guilty previously to seven counts of indecent assault involving the same complainant. The Crown alleges that from 1974 to 1976 Sharwood had a sexual relationship with the boy that developed through their mutual love of music. Bishop Nolan said that he had in effect replaced Sharwood in the then new parish of Jindalee, which had broken away from Sherwood. He said Sharwood had sent him a letter with a donation for the parish, telling him to ignore rumours he might hear about his behaviour. Under cross examination from Gary Long, for Sharwood, Bishop Nolan denied he had a fuzzy recollection of events and said he remembered reading the letter. The trial heard that in 2002 the complainant, now 46, made allegations about Sharwood to a council member of the Anglican Grammar School where Sharwood moved in 1985 as a teacher and assistant chaplain. The complainant's wife told how over time she was able to get the full story of her husband's abuse. The jury in the case is expected to retire to consider its verdict on Monday.AN Anglican priest accused of molesting a teenage boy 30 years ago asked his replacement in the parish to ignore rumours about his behaviour, a court heard. The evidence came from bishop of the western region, Robert Nolan, one of two high-ranking Anglican priests who gave evidence yesterday in the trial of Robert Francis Sharwood, the former curate of St Matthews church at Sherwood, in Brisbane's west. Sharwood, now 62, is on trial for child-sex offences allegedly committed between 1974 and 1976. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault, carnal knowledge against the order of nature, permitting carnal knowledge against the order of nature, and gross indecency. Before evidence was called Judge Fleur Kingham told the jury that Sharwood had pleaded guilty previously to seven counts of indecent assault involving the same complainant. The Crown alleges that from 1974 to 1976 Sharwood had a sexual relationship with the boy that developed through their mutual love of music. Bishop Nolan said that he had in effect replaced Sharwood in the then new parish of Jindalee, which had broken away from Sherwood. He said Sharwood had sent him a letter with a donation for the parish, telling him to ignore rumours he might hear about his behaviour. Under cross examination from Gary Long, for Sharwood, Bishop Nolan denied he had a fuzzy recollection of events and said he remembered reading the letter. The trial heard that in 2002 the complainant, now 46, made allegations about Sharwood to a council member of the Anglican Grammar School where Sharwood moved in 1985 as a teacher and assistant chaplain. The complainant's wife told how over time she was able to get the full story of her husband's abuse. The jury in the case is expected to retire to consider its verdict on Monday.
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