Church, Leader at Odds over Rape Claim, by Sarah Martin, The Advertiser, September 12, 2011

Church, Leader at Odds over Rape Claim

By Sarah Martin
The Advertiser
September 12, 2011

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/church-leader-at-odds-over-rape-claim/story-e6frea6u-1226134322858

Archbishop John Hepworth at the old St Francis Xavier Seminary, Magill SA. Picture: James Elsby

ADELAIDE'S Catholic Archdiocese has hit back at claims by an archbishop it failed to investigate sexual abuse.

Retiring Social Inclusion Commissioner Monsignor David Cappo and Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson were informed in 2007 of the abuse allegedly suffered by Archbishop John Hepworth, some of which relate to a Catholic priest who still runs an Adelaide parish. The priest has not been stood down despite an investigation being underway.

Archbishop Hepworth has alleged that he was raped repeatedly for a 12-year period by two priests, and a fellow seminary student, who was later ordained, at St Francis Xavier Seminary.

Yesterday, the Adelaide diocese released a statement prepared by its lawyers rejecting suggestions that Archbishop Hepworth's allegations had not been investigated.

It said that any delay was the fault of Archbishop Hepworth.

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"An investigation has been on foot since 2007 ... when Archbishop Hepworth first notified the Archdiocese of these matters," the statement says.

"However, at the specific request of Archbishop Hepworth, the church took no steps to progress the matter until he decided he was ready to formalise his complaints (in February 2011).

"If there has been any delay, therefore, it is because Archbishop Hepworth specifically chose not to deal with the matter until then."

The Archdiocese said the Archbishop, who revealed his plight to The Australian newspaper on Saturday, had consistently refused to inform police of the rape allegations.

"The Archdiocese of Adelaide is not critical of why it has taken so long for Archbishop Hepworth to make up his mind about these matters. However, it is wrong to suggest that any delay has been other than at the request of Archbishop Hepworth himself."

The Adelaide priest at the centre of the investigations remains in his position, and the Archdiocese said yesterday the priest, who cannot be named, had categorically denied the allegations.

The church said it was using the services of Adelaide barrister, Michael Abbott, QC, to examine the evidence found as part of its investigations before a report was released.