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	I'll Name Sex-accused Priest: Xenophon By Rebecca Puddy The Australian September 13, 2011 http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/ill-name-sex-accused-priest-xenophon/story-fn59niix-1226135257884 INDEPENDENT senator Nick Xenophon has issued an ultimatum to the Catholic Church that unless it stands down the priest at the centre of clerical sexual abuse allegations today, he will name him in parliament. Senator Xenophon, speaking in the Senate last night under the protection of parliamentary privilege, has also called for a government inquiry into the allegations of abuse made by Archbishop John Hepworth and questioned the appropriateness of the appointment of the Adelaide archdiocese's vicar-general, David Cappo, as chairman of Julia Gillard's Mental Health Commission. "Tonight, I am calling for the federal government to make a serious, detailed and formal inquiry into allegations made by Archbishop John Hepworth, the primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion, and how they may reflect on this planned appointment to the federal government taskforce," Senator Xenophon told the Senate. "I believe the weakness of that response can be traced back in part to Monsignor Cappo, who for reasons not fully explained, has failed to act in a timely and decisive manner on this important issue." Archbishop Hepworth's allegations of sexual abuse over 12 years from the age of 15 at the hands of two priests and one seminary student while he was a student and priest were revealed by The Weekend Australian. Two of the alleged abusers are dead and the third runs a parish in South Australia. Senator Xenophon said he had spoken to Archbishop Hepworth about the allegations yesterday and was concerned about the level of protection being offered to parishioners: "There are parents sending their children to church unaware that their priest . . . has been named as an abuser . . . a rapist," Senator Xenophon told the Senate. "I will give the Catholic Church in South Australia until midday tomorrow to remove this priest from his post. If by midday tomorrow this hasn't happened, I intend to name the priest in question here in the Senate." Naming the priest in the Senate under parliamentary privilege could have an impact on a police investigation, "but I have to weigh this up with my responsibility to those who are in contact with this priest now", he told the Senate. He said the church had been told of the abuse in 2007 but its response had been "inadequate". "It is clear that the seemingly low priority the Catholic Church in South Australia has given to this matter has caused great distress to John Hepworth. And I question whether it is appropriate for a senior religious figure like David Cappo, who has responded this way to allegations of serious sexual and psychological abuse, to be given the role of chairman of the federal government's mental health taskforce." Monsignor Cappo declined to comment on Senator Xenophon's statement last night.
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