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	Priest Publicly Denies Rape Allegations By John Stewart ABC September 14, 2011 http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2011/s3318000.htm [with video] Transcript TONY JONES, PRESENTER: A Catholic priest accused in Federal Parliament of being a rapist has publicly denied the allegation. Last night, the independent Senator Nick Xenophon used parliamentary privilege to name the priest. Today, the Archbishop of Adelaide, Philip Wilson, attacked the senator for naming the priest and denied that the Church's investigation into the rape allegations is taking too long. John Stewart reports. JOHN STEWART, REPORTER: Monsignor Ian Dempsey today fronted the cameras, delivering a blanket denial that he'd raped John Hepworth. IAN DEMPSEY, CATHOLIC PRIEST: I am aware of John Hepworth's unsubstantiated allegations against me through an inquiry instigated by the Archbishop of Adelaide. 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 occurred some 45 years ago and they have nothing at all to do with under-age people. JOHN STEWART: Some of his parishioners were on hand to offer support. JUDY FERNANDEZ, CHAIR OF BRIGHTON PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL: As a parish priest, his leadership is unquestionable. As a priest, his sense of pastoral care and awareness to many, many people has never wavered. JOHN STEWART: The Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide, Phillip Wilson, today attacked Senator Nick Xenophon for using parliamentary privilege to name the priest. PHILIP WILSON, ARCHBISHOP, ADELAIDE ARCHDIOCESE: There have never been any suggestions of danger to people in the parish having the priest present, and the investigation is well underway. The damage to the priest's reputation is obvious and severe, and in my opinion this serves to undermine the presumption of innocence which all of us are entitled to enjoy. JOHN STEWART: Others were also critical of Senator Xenophon. BARNABY JOYCE, NATIONALS LEADER IN THE SENATE: The overwhelming emotion of the public is this is right, this is correct, this is true, therefore it should be said. But that is a job for the police. It's not a job for politicians. If you want to be a policeman, go outside and become a policeman. JOHN STEWART: Today Senator Xenophon stood his ground and said the Catholic Church in Adelaide was told of the allegations four years ago and had failed to act. NICK XENOPHON, INDEPENDENT SENATOR: When there were serious allegations made in similar circumstances, what occurs as a general rule is that the priest is stood down on administrative leave pending an appropriate investigation. Now, I really think that the ball has been very much in the Catholic Church in South Australia's court on this issue and I don't think that the process has been adequate. JOHN STEWART: And sex abuse survivor groups are supporting the South Australian senator. MAIREAD ASHCROFT, SURVIVORS AUSTRALIA: He spoke to the Catholic Church, he said to them, "Stand this man down or I will go into Parliament and I will name and shame." They were given that choice and they chose not to stand him down. JOHN STEWART: Archbishop Wilson says one of the reasons he didn't stand the priest down was because the allegations did not involve children. PHILIP WILSON: In this case, however, we're not talking about child sexual abuse, despite the unfortunate suggestions made to the contrary in the past few days. The allegations refer to when Archbishop Hepworth was in his 20s. JOHN STEWART: Archbishop Wilson says that Church officials had met with John Hepworth eight times and the investigation was progressing. However, yesterday, John Hepworth said he had experienced difficulties in his dealings with the Adelaide Archdiocese. JOHN HEPWORTH, TRADITIONAL ANGLICAN COMMUNION: There was a proposal that I have a supervised meeting to confront the perpetrator and see where that goes and I was strongly advised not to do it. JOHN STEWART: Two of the priests who allegedly raped John Hepworth have since died and claims against them have been settled by the Melbourne Archdiocese. Today the Archbishop of Sydney, George Pell, said in a statement, "The Independent Commissioner of the Melbourne archdiocese found that Fr John Hepworth (as he then was) was abused by a Melbourne priest. “I am deeply sorry for his suffering, and appalled at what he has experienced .... More information seems to be needed to explain further to the public any unusual delays in acting on this complaint, and the decision not to stand aside the person who has been accused." John Hepworth has been criticised for not going to the police. Today he said he's now considering doing just that. JOHN HEPWORTH: I was contacted to see if the police could do anything more for me, and I have agreed to return to that conversation later in the week when I see how things have panned out. JOHN STEWART: Monsignor Ian Dempsey is taking scheduled leave. The investigation by the Adelaide Archdiocese is continuing. John Stewart, Lateline.
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