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	Suspect Priest Pictured with Ak-47 Rifle Herald Sun December 2, 2007 http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22854969-662,00.html A CATHOLIC priest under investigation by police has been pictured carrying a deadly assault rifle in war-torn Afghanistan. Father Tony Pearson, of South Australia, is a target in a long-running police pedophile task force investigation. The investigation was launched after material concerning Father Pearson was provided to an inquiry late last year. Police discovered photographs of Father Pearson in the devoutly Muslim country while searching his computer hard drive. In the photo at left, he is holding what appears to be an AK-47. Another picture from Afghanistan shows him standing next to an unidentified man holding a rocket launcher. In both pictures Father Pearson is wearing a traditional garment of Afghan men. Father Pearson's activities in Afghanistan have also been scrutinised by SA police's Protective Security Service and ASIO, Australia's domestic intelligence service. Besides the weapons photos, Father Pearson's office computer, owned by the church, also contained several hundred pornographic images of young men. The Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide has confirmed Father Pearson has stood down. In an emailed statement, Chancellor Jane Swift said the church authorities first became aware of the inquiry when contacted by police 12 months ago. She confirmed Father Pearson had been in Afghanistan for the past two months. Before standing down, Father Pearson was involved in Adelaide's Aboriginal Catholic Ministry and the Otherway Centre as chaplain. The pedophile inquiry is believed to be investigating his dealings with underage Aboriginal males through his work at the Otherway Centre. Father Pearson has regularly visited Afghanistan in recent years, written extensively about the persecution of its people and has assisted Afghan refugees. He refused to comment when contacted in Afghanistan.
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