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	Senator Xenophon Says He Will Name Alleged Abuser in Parliament ABC September 13, 2011 http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2011/s3316880.htm MARK COLVIN: The Independent Senator Nick Xenophon is standing by his threat to name the priest at the centre of the Catholic Church's latest alleged sex abuse scandal. He told the Senate last night that he would name the man under parliamentary privilege, unless the church stood him down while it investigated the allegations. The church sent Mr Xenophon a legal letter today imploring him not to name the man. The alleged victim, Archbishop John Hepworth, has also asked the Senator not to name the priest. But Mr Xenophon says he has no choice but to name the man tonight. Nance Haxton reports. NANCE HAXTON: The sexual abuse allegations come from respected quarters, the Archbishop John Hepworth. The Archbishop is now the Primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion. He says he was repeatedly raped by three priests over a 12 year period while training in a Catholic seminary. One of those priests is still alive and has a parish in Adelaide. Archbishop Hepworth says he doesn't want Senator Xenophon to name the priest in Parliament. JOHN HEPWORTH: I have suggested to him that instead of naming the priest, tonight which brings things to some sort of climax but maybe not one that solves any problems, that he write to Archbishop Wilson suggesting to him that it's probably important enough to request the priest to stand aside while that inquiry of the QC proceeds. And if indeed the Archbishop agrees to ask the priest to stand aside then there is no need to name him. NANCE HAXTON: So to be clear you'd definitely prefer that this priest not be named but you would still like to see him be stood down until your allegations have been fully investigated? JOHN HEPWORTH: Yes because my allegations were a greater story than just this one priest. This treatment of this priest is only one part of that story. As long as a process goes on that is fair and just I will be comfortable with that. NANCE HAXTON: Senator Nick Xenophon took up Archbishop Hepworth's case and last night told the Senate that he would name the priest allegedly involved in the abuse unless the church stood him down from his duties while investigations continue. The Catholic Church responded with a legal letter this morning, stating in part: EXCERPT FROM LETTER: The priest concerned has categorically denied the allegations and objectively speaking it is not irrelevant that he has been a priest of good standing in the Archdiocese for almost 50 years. In those circumstances any decision to suspend the priest concerned would be unjustifiable as a matter of canon and civil law. NANCE HAXTON: But Archbishop Hepworth disagrees, saying the priest should be forced to step down. JOHN HEPWORTH: In the Catholic Church generally in Australia bishops do stand priests aside or request that they stand aside while allegations are investigated. I can't see how there can be any sort of law that would in fact prevent that request being made. NANCE HAXTON: Senator Nick Xenophon says the only way the church can stop him naming the priest in Parliament is for them to remove him from his post while the church investigates the allegations. He has also called on the Federal Government to reconsider its appointment of Monsignor David Cappo as the chairman of its new Mental Health Commission, claiming he failed to properly investigate the sexual abuse allegations. The Adelaide Archdiocese has issued a statement saying the priest has categorically denied the allegations and the church has encouraged Archbishop Hepworth to report his allegations to the police, but he decided not to do so. A spokeswoman for Mental Health Minister Mark Butler says the Government stands by its decision to appoint Monsignor Cappo as he was the obvious choice. But Senator Xenophon says the Adelaide diocese has not conducted a proper investigation and should be held responsible. NICK XENOPHON: I will make it very clear that everyone has a presumption of innocence but the issue here is that Archbishop Hepworth approached the Catholic Church in South Australia some four years, over four years ago about this. He made a written complaint over three years ago, after what I think was an unsatisfactory process to begin with. And what was offered to Archbishop Hepworth was really not satisfactory. So the Catholic Church in South Australia has itself to blame if this course continues. This man can be stood down on administrative leave pending an investigation. Archbishop Hepworth says he is still hopeful of a resolution. JOHN HEPWORTH: Only the church can heal what the church has broken and if victims can't approach the church they don't heal.
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