By George Conger
Religious Intelligence
October 13, 2009
http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=5128
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Wilfred Edwin Dennis was found guilty on Oct 1 of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy between October 1975 and January 1977. He was acquitted, however, on three counts of indecent assault and one count of gross indecency for allegedly having molested a second 10-year-old altar boy between 1972 and 1974.
The crimes came to light in 2002 when one of the victims contacted Dennis demanding compensation. Dennis, who had by that time quit the Anglican Church of Australia over the issue of women priests to join the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC), informed his superior, Archbishop John Hepworth, of the threatening letter.
Asked if the allegations were true, Dennis admitted they were, and added that he had molested 41 other boys. Archbishop Hepworth contacted the police to report the crimes and also helped Dennis engage a lawyer.
In his summing up, Judge Sydney Tilmouth said Dennis’ testimony had been “bizarre” and “unconvincing.” Sentencing will take place in November.
On Oct 24, 2008, Adelaide Archbishop Jeffrey Driver told his synod the diocese had paid out over ?2 million to settle 80 sexual abuse claims. In 2004, the diocese was confronted with claims for damages from up to 100 young men allegedly sexually abused by clergy and diocesan youth workers. The scandal forced then-Archbishop Ian George to resign after a diocesan review found his management of the crisis unsatisfactory.
The synod agreed to sell portions of Bishopscourt, the diocese’s episcopal palace, to help pay the abuse claims.
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