Melbourne Church Acts to Defrock Every Abuse Offender Priest, CathNews, May 9, 2011

Melbourne Church Acts to Defrock Every Abuse Offender Priest

CathNews
May 9, 2011

http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=26211

Screenshot from the report in The Age

The Archdiocese of Melbourne is defrocking every priest convicted of sexual offences against children, reports the Age.

Fourteen Melbourne priests have been convicted in criminal courts of offences against children. Three are dead. Of the others, four have already been defrocked and applications against another five are before the Vatican. Two more cases are being prepared for submission later this year.

Another priest, not convicted in court, has already been defrocked after being judged guilty of abuse by the church's independent commissioner.

The archdiocese has moved quickly in the past year. In April 2010 a spokesman said that despite the more than 300 allegations of abuse substantiated by the independent commissioner, only one priest had been defrocked.

The church has been criticised for not acting to remove paedophile priests, but Melbourne's Vicar-General, Bishop Les Tomlinson, said it was only recently that changes to canon law allowed defrocking without their consent and without a trial.