BishopAccountability.org
	Pedophile Priest Appeals Courier Mail March 20, 2008 http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23409011-3102,00.html A CONVICTED pedophile Anglican priest has appealed a decision by an independent board to recommend his defrocking. Robert Francis Sharwood, 62, of Brisbane, was jailed for 12 months in November 2006, after being found guilty of sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy in Brisbane more than 30 years ago. Sharwood was released from jail in November last year, attracting calls by child protection advocates for him to be immediately stripped of his holy orders. While Brisbane Anglican Archbishop Phillip Aspinall removed Sharwood's licence to practice as a priest in the diocese in 2002, the church's independent Professional Standards Board only met on March 1 this year to consider Sharwood's defrocking. It is understood the board, presided over by Justice Debra Mullins, decided to recommend Sharwood's defrocking, but had to provide a 14-day appeal period. A church spokesman today confirmed a formal request had been received for a review of the recommendation about the fitness of Sharwood to remain in holy orders. The spokesman said an independent legal process would be established as soon as possible. The Bar Association of Queensland has been asked to select a suitably qualified barrister to conduct the review. The church declined to comment further.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.