By Rebecca Puddy
The Australian
September 14, 2011
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/monsignor-dempsey-denies-xenophons-allegations-of-abuse-against-hepworth/story-fn59niix-1226136952074
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| Monsignor Ian Dempsey, with members of his Brighton Parish, responds to Senator Nick Xenophon's allegations of rape made against him under parliamentary privilege. Picture: Kelly Barnes Source: News Limited |
A CATHOLIC priest has categorically denied raping Adelaide Archbishop of the Traditional Anglican Communion John Hepworth decades ago.
Speaking under parliamentary privilege, independent senator for South Australia Nick Xenophon on Tuesday named the priest as Monsignor Ian Dempsey, a parish priest in the seaside suburb of Brighton.
Monsignor Dempsey made a statement at his Brighton Catholic parish rectory today. He was joined by members of the parish council and the parishioners.
"On legal advice, I can only make a short statement and I won't be answering any questions," Monsignor Dempsey said.
"I am aware of John Hepworth's unsubstantiated allegations against me through an inquiry instigated by the Archbishop.
"I have made it clear in writing to the inquiry that I categorically deny the allegations, which I note are said to relate to events that occured some 45 years ago and have nothing at all to do with underage people."
He further denied the allegations and said he was going on annual leave from this weekend for one month.
Senator Xenophon had told the Senate there were allegations that Monsignor Dempsey had raped John Hepworth more than 40 years ago.
Earlier, Senator Nick Xenophon said he had been swamped with calls, some from victims of abuse, after naming Monsignor Dempsey.
"We've been inundated with calls this morning and emails," he told Macquarie radio.
The Catholic Church needed to ensure transparency, he said.
"It's very interesting that Cardinal Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney, has actually said today that that the Catholic Churches of Australia need to have a transparent process the public have confidence in and it's been my concern," Senator Xenophon said.
"In other cases where there are serious accusations and of course there is a presumption of innocence - priests are stood down administratively so there can be an appropriate investigation.
"That hasn't happened in this case (for) various reasons given by the churches of Australia, which I think are unsatisfactory."
Asked what he thought of Bishop Christopher Saunders labelling his naming of the priest a stunt, he said that was "objectionable" and that this was a serious matter.
He called for the people who had contacted him about their experiences of sexual abuse to go to the police.
But some coalition senators have criticised the move.
Liberal Simon Birmingham said parliamentary privilege should be used "cautiously, judiciously, sparingly".
"It's not the role of politicians to play police, prosecutor, judge and jury," he told reporters.
Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce said using parliamentary privilege circumvented rights and liberties.
"We've got to make sure that everybody has got a certain presumption of innocence until proven otherwise," he said.
"If you have got the story wrong, then you've done an incredible injustice to the person."
A senior Catholic figure has defended the church's handling of the matter.
The general secretary of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Brian Lucas, said Senator Xenophon had failed to make clear the allegations did not involve children.
They related to a claim involving two priests in their late 20s some 40 or so years ago, Father Lucas said.
The church had made the right call in not standing down the priest.
"For someone to stand down ... on the basis of no perceived risk to children doesn't seem at all necessary," he said.
Father Lucas said Archbishop Hepworth should have gone to authorities with his claims.
Archbishop Hepworth, 67, revealed at the weekend he was the victim of violent rapes at the hands of two priests and a trainee priest beginning in 1960, when he was 15.
Claims against dead priests Ronald Pickering and John Stockdale were settled in Melbourne.
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