Priest Reinstated after Sexual Relationship

7 News
January 20, 2013

au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/15884289/priest-reinstated-after-sexual-relationship/

The Catholic Church is defending the reinstatement of a priest who maintained a sexual relationship with a disabled woman for 14 years.

Father Thomas Knowles has returned to full duties at St Francis' Church in Melbourne after 16 months of "administrative leave" for the relationship he began with the woman when she was 22 years old.

Fairfax media is reporting the woman was paid $100,000 in compensation.

Father Pat Negry from the Blessed Sacrament Congregation says he believes the decision to return Father Knowles to his position was appropriate "after a prolonged investigation".

But victims' advocate Chris McIsaac from Broken Rites says his transgressions are too severe for him to have been let off so lightly.

"[It's] disappointing to see a woman who was in a very vulnerable position and exploited, to have brought her story forward and the church to have treated it the way they have as if it's not a real issue," he said.

"It's an issue of how serious do they take this sort of behaviour?

"Is it alright for priests to breach their celibacy promises? Is it alright for them not to be responsible for their actions?"