By Joanne Mccarthy and Matt Carr
Illawarra Mercury
May 19, 2010
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/former-wollongong-bishop-in-spotlight-over-abuse-claims/1833465.aspx
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| Archbishop Wilson |
Former Wollongong Bishop Philip Wilson has been asked to explain what he knew about sexual abuse by priests in the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese during his time in senior positions there in the 1970s and '80s.
Reports on ABC television on Monday night labelled the Maitland-Newcastle diocese as "perhaps the epicentre of Catholic clerical sexual abuse in Australia".
The ABC reports, which followed coverage in Fairfax's Newcastle Herald detailing the failure of Church authorities to report sexual abuse allegations against priests to police, took particular aim at former Maitland priest and now Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson. Archbishop Wilson was Bishop of Wollongong from 1996 until 2001 and has been named as a possible successor to the Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell should he take a senior post at the Vatican.
The ABC reports alleged Archbishop Wilson should have known of abuse by priests James Fletcher and John Denham at Maitland and Adamstown in the 1970s and did not tell police.
Archbishop Wilson told the ABC he had no knowledge of the abuse.
The Newcastle Herald has revealed documents showing Bishop Michael Malone, his predecessor Leo Clarke and then priest Philip Wilson had roles in the attempted secret defrocking of paedophile priest Denis McAlinden.
One of the Australian Catholic Church's most recognised spokesmen, Father Brian Lucas, also allegedly knew of allegations against McAlinden before McAlinden's attempted secret defrocking in 1995.
Victims who contacted the Herald after investigations about the Church's handling of the problem priest have claimed that Father Lucas, now the Australian Bishops Conference general secretary, met with a victim of McAlinden's in the months before the attempted defrocking in October 1995.
The claims have not yet been tested by police.
The victim also claims Father Lucas was told of allegations involving four child victims of McAlinden, all younger than 12, at the meeting which included other priests.
Former Wollongong Bishop Philip Wilson has been asked to explain what he knew about sexual abuse by priests in the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese during his time in senior positions there in the 1970s and '80s.
Reports on ABC television on Monday night labelled the Maitland-Newcastle diocese as "perhaps the epicentre of Catholic clerical sexual abuse in Australia".
The ABC reports, which followed coverage in Fairfax's Newcastle Herald detailing the failure of Church authorities to report sexual abuse allegations against priests to police, took particular aim at former Maitland priest and now Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson. Archbishop Wilson was Bishop of Wollongong from 1996 until 2001 and has been named as a possible successor to the Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell should he take a senior post at the Vatican.
The ABC reports alleged Archbishop Wilson should have known of abuse by priests James Fletcher and John Denham at Maitland and Adamstown in the 1970s and did not tell police.
Archbishop Wilson told the ABC he had no knowledge of the abuse.
The Newcastle Herald has revealed documents showing Bishop Michael Malone, his predecessor Leo Clarke and then priest Philip Wilson had roles in the attempted secret defrocking of paedophile priest Denis McAlinden.
One of the Australian Catholic Church's most recognised spokesmen, Father Brian Lucas, also allegedly knew of allegations against McAlinden before McAlinden's attempted secret defrocking in 1995.
Victims who contacted the Herald after investigations about the Church's handling of the problem priest have claimed that Father Lucas, now the Australian Bishops Conference general secretary, met with a victim of McAlinden's in the months before the attempted defrocking in October 1995.
The claims have not yet been tested by police.
The victim also claims Father Lucas was told of allegations involving four child victims of McAlinden, all younger than 12, at the meeting which included other priests.
At the request of police, the Herald has forwarded a report of claims made by McAlinden's victims about the alleged involvement of Father Lucas, and Archbishop Wilson, in the period before October 1995.
Church documents obtained by the Herald relating to the attempted defrocking were handed to police early this month.
In a letter from then Maitland-Newcastle Bishop Leo Clarke to McAlinden on October 19, 1995, the bishop assured the priest his "good name" would be protected by the secret defrocking and urged him to comply for "the good of the Church" because of evidence collected and "in the light of your admission to Father Brian Lucas".
The diocese did not contact police about the McAlinden allegations until 2005, just before the priest's death in Western Australia.
Police are considering investigations to see whether any action should be taken regarding the Church's failure to alert authorities about the allegations.
Documents dated October 1995 show the then Father Wilson took a statement alleging child sex abuse from a McAlinden victim.
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