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	Ex-rocky Priest Extradited on Sex Charges Priest Is Accused of Sexual Offences against Six Boys Gavin Northey The Bulletin February 16, 2009 http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/story/2009/02/16/ex-rocky-priest-extradited-on-sex-charges-priest-i/ A FORMER Rockhampton Catholic priest appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court yesterday charged with child-sex offences. Charles Alfred Barnett (pictured), 67, who served at Wandal in the early 1990s, was extradited from Indonesia on Saturday to face the charges. He is accused of sexual offences against six boys and is the first person to be extradited from Indonesia under a treaty with Australia. Barnett has lived in Jakarta for the past 12 years, working as an English teacher and running a garment business. As an Australian priest he was part of a small order called the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentian Order) of which there are now believed to be about 40 members. He was at the Vincentian parish of St Vincent's, Wandal, for about two years between 1991 and 1993. According to an ABC news report an Indonesian court ruled last year that Barnett be extradited to Australia to face charges he sexually interfered with the children of his parishioners while he was a priest in South Australia between 1977 and 1994. The ABC report did not mention Barnett's Wandal service. Barnett was arrested a year ago at the behest of Australian police. He is accused of a count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a boy, 13, and seven counts of indecent assault against four other boys between 1977 and 1983. The alleged offences occurred in three South Australian towns. He also is accused of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a sixth boy, 15, in Adelaide in 1994. He did not apply for bail and will return to court on Friday. Catholic Bishop of Rockhampton, Bishop Brian Heenan, confirmed Barnett had been a priest in Rockhampton but he was not aware of any allegations against him related to his time here. He said if there were anyone with a legitimate grievance against him, they should contact police. “We do not want anything to be covered up,” he said. “We want people, who have any allegations, to come forward. We want due process to be followed.” Barnett was not a Rockhampton diocesan priest.
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