Retired Priest Charged with Child-sex Offences

By Elise Worthington
ABC News
March 11, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-12/retired-priest-charged-with-child-sex-offences/4566952?section=qld

A retired Catholic priest has been charged with more than 50 historical child-sex offences, south of Brisbane.

Detectives from the Child and Sexual Crimes Unit have charged the 77-year-old man following an investigation that began last year into the alleged indecent treatment of children between 1977 and 1988.

Police allege more than a dozen children were molested in the Brisbane, Logan and Gold Coast areas during that time.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with 57 counts of indecent treatment of children and one count of common assault.

He was not required to appear for today's brief mention in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court, south of Brisbane, with the case adjourned until May.

The man is still listed in the Catholic Church directory of priests and the ABC understands he has been receiving financial "health and retirement support" from the church.

His lawyers say the retired priest is in poor health and is yet to see a full brief of evidence relating to the charges.