Accused Priest Back in Ministry

By Verity Edwards
The Australian
September 22, 2012

www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/accused-priest-back-in-ministry/story-e6frg6nf-1226479141931

John Hepworth leaves Adelaide police station last year after laying a complaint against Catholic priest Ian Dempsey.

THE Catholic Church has cleared priest Ian Dempsey to return to parish duties, despite an ongoing police sex-crimes investigation into allegations he raped former Traditional Anglican Church primate John Hepworth more than 40 years ago.

This comes as the Director of Public Prosecutions, Adam Kimber, considers whether to lay charges against the priest.

Vicar-General Philip Marshall told The Weekend Australian Monsignor Dempsey's resumption of ministry was justified on the basis of an independent investigation by Michael Abbott QC last year, which found no substance to allegations made by Archbishop Hepworth. "It was now evident that despite the fact the matter was referred to police as long ago as November 2011, it is obvious that any inquiries by police could take some time to be completed," Father Marshall said.

"His return to ministry, which is founded on his right to the presumption of innocence, does not contravene any of the church's policies or any civil requirements, therefore there was no reason for him not to resume his parish duties."

Monsignor Dempsey was named under parliamentary privilege by senator Nick Xenophon last September as one of three alleged perpetrators who raped Archbishop Hepworth over a 10-year period while he was in the Adelaide seminary.