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	Read Richard's Story By Nigel Hunt Adelaide Now August 30, 2008 http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24268780-5006301,00.html VULNERABLE and confused about his sexuality, Richard confided in Father John Fleming. He expected guidance from a man he held "in awe", but instead ended up in a sexual relationship with the popular priest. The relationship, which included encounters in Father Fleming's St Mark's College flat, on Anglican camps and later in the carpark of Father Fleming's then parish at Plympton, spanned six years. While it started in 1975 prior to Father Fleming's marriage and continued after it, the relationship ceased while Father Fleming went overseas for several years in the late 1970s. After Richard and his wife were married by Father Fleming in 1980, his relationship with him resumed – ending when Richard confided in another Anglican priest. In 1994, Richard and his wife separated after he came out. His wife then sought annulment of their marriage, citing his sexuality and relationship with Father Fleming. At the time, both were switching from the Anglican to the Catholic Church – at the same time Father Fleming was also switching denominations. During a marriage tribunal meeting, Richard's relationship with Father Fleming was revealed – a confidence that was broken when then Catholic Archbishop Leonard Faulkner was advised. Richard told the Sunday Mail Father Fleming had rung him shortly afterwards in a distressed state. It was because of the disclosure of confidential information that Richard sought, and held, at least three meetings with Archbishop Faulkner. While Richard was primarily concerned at the breach of confidence by the tribunal, he also told Archbishop Faulkner of his relationship with Father Fleming. He remembers one meeting in Archbishop Faulkner's Wakefield St office and another at his home in the western suburbs. "I asked for the meetings because I wanted to make it clear what had happened to me with John and the details of that," Richard said. "He particularly asked me did I think that he should ordain John and I said that was not a decision I was comfortable making. "I wanted him to know what had happened and that decision was up to him." Richard said the meetings were also about how he felt, his own involvement with the church and his role in what had occurred. "We talked about homosexuality in the church a bit and I talked about the effect of what had happened on me," he said. Richard said that during his discussions with Archbishop Faulkner he "got the impression" that Father Fleming's ordination may have been in question. He was "surprised" when Father Fleming was then ordained by Archbishop Faulkner. "I thought it was surprising, but I didn't do anything about it," he said. "I thought I had taken on the church as much as I could." Richard said he believed there was "a question mark" over Father Fleming's ordination and his suitability to hold such a position of trust. `MY view is that he was my priest, I went to him for help and he had a duty of care to me," he said. "The sense in which I think there is a question mark over his suitability is that I was a vulnerable young man who was confused. "He took advantage of that. "I think there is a question mark over whether a person like that, who is in a counselling role and position of power over people, whether it is suitable for them to be in that role." Richard said that in 2005, when he heard Father Fleming had been appointed to head Campion College, he was again surprised at the actions of the Catholic Church. Richard said he was contacted by the Pedophile Task Force three months ago as part of their investigation into Father Fleming. "I have been trying to get on with my life," he said. "But here it is, it has come up again, so I have to deal with it. "It is stressful."
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