By Rebecca Puddy
The Australian
November 30, 2011
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/john-hepworth-takes-sex-case-to-police/story-e6frg6nf-1226209628894
 |
| John Hepworth leaves Adelaide police station yesterday after laying a complaint of rape against Catholic priest Ian Dempsey. Picture: Kelly Barnes Source: The Australian |
ANGLICAN breakaway archbishop John Hepworth yesterday lodged a complaint with police alleging he was raped by a Catholic priest 40 years ago.
The leader of the Traditional Anglican Communion filed the complaint in South Australia on legal advice a day after a church inquiry found "no substance" to allegations he had made against Adelaide priest Ian Dempsey.
Mr Hepworth said he had no choice but to turn to the police, four years after first raising the matter with the Adelaide Catholic Archdiocese, which he said had "betrayed" him.
"It was never my intention to go beyond the processes of the church," he said.
"I very much regret that I am having to do that but I have been left with no option but to ask the police to examine the matters that I have put before the church."
Mr Hepworth alleged earlier this year he had been raped by three priests, from 1960 when he was 15. This led to independent South Australian senator Nick Xenophon naming Monsignor Dempsey in parliament.
Mr Hepworth said he remained bitterly disappointed by the findings of a church-commissioned investigation by Michael Abbott QC, which on Monday cleared Monsignor Dempsey.
"I felt deeply betrayed by the archbishop and the processes," he said.
Mr Abbott yesterday defended the credibility of his inquiry. "Archbishop Hepworth chose not to make any written statement; he chose not to put anything in writing; he chose not to give me any list of witnesses to contact; he chose not to participate -- full stop," he told The Australian.
"On the evidence that I had, I think my findings are very comprehensive."
A spokeswoman for the archdiocese said the church had encouraged Mr Hepworth to take his allegations to police for the past four years.
Mr Hepworth said yesterday he still hoped to "find peace".
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.