BishopAccountability.org
	Pell Alarmed by Alleged Internet Grooming Priest CathNews August 17, 2009 http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=15782 The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell said the news of alleged internet grooming by Liverpool based priest Fr Robert Fuller was "appaling and distressing", and that he shared the alarm of parishioners and parents. "I can assure them that the safety of children in our parishes and schools is paramount, and the Archdiocese will cooperate fully with the police in relation to this and any other investigation into abuse at any time," Cardinal Pell was quoted as saying on the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney website. Fr Fuller, who was reportedly arrested after police caught him grooming a child for sex via chat room messages on the internet, was immediately stood down from his ministry and has been removed from his parish, the Archdiocese said. Any return to the parish and active ministry will be dependent on the outcome of the court proceedings. Police allege that between July 21 and August 13 Fuller had 13 online chat sessions with an officer masquerading as a 13 year old girl, Nine News reported. He was arrested on Thursday afternoon in the car park of Parramatta pool where it is alleged he planned to meet the teenage girl for sex. He was subsequently charged with grooming and procuring a child under the age of 16 and faced Parramatta Local Court on Friday. A friend and fellow priest, Father Terry Bell, offered $25,000 as bail and accommodation at a Church owned property on the NSW Central Coast in support of Fr Fuller's bid for bail, according to The Australian. Magistrate Peter Miszalski granted the priest bail, requiring him to report to police three times a week, surrender his passport, not use the internet and not be in proximity to children. Fr Fuller will next appear in the same court on October 8. In applying for bail, Fr Fuller's solicitor Greg Walsh said there was no suggestion in the facts that any child "before this alleged behaviour, has been put at risk or preyed upon by this man." The Archdiocese of Sydney said that its policy was that priests accused of any criminal offence are "responsible for their own legal costs." "The Archdiocese does not contribute to these costs or provide sureties for bail, and Fr Fuller's case is no exception." "The Archdiocese understands that Fr Bell has taken out a personal loan to pay Fr Fuller's bail personally." It said the Archdiocese would provide "basic care" to Fuller in accordance with his bail conditions.
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