Australia: Former Vicar Who Concealed Paedophilia Cases, Arrested

Vatican Insider
September 3, 2012

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/world-news/detail/articolo/australia-pedofilia-pedophilia-17773/

Australian priests

Fr. Tom Brennan has been accused of failing to report serious cases of abuse against youngsters committed by former priest John Denham

vatican insider staff

Rome

The former vicar-general of a Catholic diocese in NSW, in Australia, has been arrested on charges of concealing complaints made against another priest for committing acts of paedophilia. Fr. Tom Brennan (74) has been charged with failing to report the alleged indecent assault of two children committed by the former priest John Denham.

The offences were allegedly committed towards the end of the 70s, in a school in Newcastle, north of Sydney, where Fr. Denham was a teacher and Fr. Brennan the principle.

Sergeant Kristi Faber, detective in a task force that deals with cases of paedophilia in religious institutions, accused Brennan of eight counts of sexual abuse against an eight-year-old boy, in a church, between 1984 and 1985. Brennan also faces two charges of common assault for failing to report the reported indecent assault.

Doctor Bernard Barrett, of the support group for victims of paedophile priests, describes the charges as a “milestone for Australia”. This is the first time charges have been made against a religious leader of this level for failing to report alleged abuse,” he said.

The Bishop of Newcastle, Bill Wright, issued a statement expressing his “profound sadness.” “We must find the strength inside us to support those who expect the Church to explain the unexplainable,” he stated.