Australia: New Inquiries Launched into Paedophilia Cases

Vatican Insider
July 5, 2012

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/world-news/detail/articolo/australia-pedofilia-paedophilia-pedophilia-chiesa-church-iglesia-16573/

Cardinal Georg Pell

The Australian Catholic Church has launched a new inquiry into cases of sex abuse against minors which occurred in two parishes in New South Wales in the early 80’s. This is after the publication of a detailed document, which states that three of Australia’s most distinguished prelates failed to report a series of serious paedophilia cases which a priest - known only as Fr. F - had admitted to in person. Apparently they did not report him to authorities for legal reasons.

Meanwhile, State police is investigating into the affair in order to establish whether the three prelates committed a crime which could be punishable with a two year prison sentence, for not reporting the cases to the police.

Fr. F was arrested in 1987 on charges of committing acts of paedophilia in the Catholic parish of Moree. He was put on trial but the judge dismissed the case before allowing the jury to examine him, claiming that the credibility of one of the victims, who was 15 at the time, could not be set against that of a priest. Fr. F therefore continued his ministry in the parish of Paramatta, in Sydney, where he sexually molested two altar boys.

After rumours of the priest’s sexual abuse began to spread, Fr. F was called to Sydney Cathedral by the Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference, Fr. Brian Lucas, the director of the Catholic aid commission, Fr. John Usher and the diocese of Armidale’s vicar general, Fr. Wayne Peters. A few days later, Fr. Peters wrote to his bishop, Mgr. Kevin manning, informing him that Fr. F had confessed to abusing five young boys aged 10 and 11, between 1982 and 1984.

The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell was also implicated in the scandal as he defended the three prelates on television, denying Fr. F’s confession. He did so unaware that a document existed, which stated that they had turned a blind eye to the abuse.

The details of the affair were revealed in a programme broadcast on Australia’s national television network Abc, attracting a host of requests for a judicial inquiry commission to shed light on cases of sex abuse in the Australian Catholic Church. Meanwhile, a police spokesman has confirmed that detectives are examining the content of the television programme and are inviting all victims and anyone who has any information, to contact their nearest police station.