Catholic Priest Appears in Beenleigh Court on Child Sex Charges Related to Offences at Southeast Queensland Schools

News.com.au
March 13, 2013

http://www.news.com.au/national-news/catholic-priest-in-beenleigh-court-on-child-sex-charges-related-to-offences-at-southeast-queensland-schools/story-fncynjr2-1226595412250

THE Catholic Church says it is paying retirement benefits to a priest facing 57 charges of sexually abusing more than 10 children in southeast Queensland schools.

The man worked in the schools in the 1970s and '80s.

The retired priest, who cannot be named, remains in the official directory of the Catholic Church of Australia.

Detectives from the Child and Sexual Crimes Unit charged the man with 57 counts of indecent treatment of children and one count of common assault relating to offences said to have taken place between 1977 and 1988.

The matter was adjourned in Beenleigh Magistrates Court yesterday until May 13 for a committal mention. The defendant did not appear.

Outside the court, a woman said she was a victim of the alleged abuse.

"I have grown up feeling very betrayed by religion, by authority," she said.

The man's lawyer, Jim Coburn of Peter Shields Lawyers, told reporters outside of court that his client was in poor health and was concerned by the allegations.

He said his client's condition was "serious" but would not detail the health problem.

Mr Coburn said his client's instructions were to defend the accusations, which he said related to more than 10 alleged victims.

"They are his instructions at the moment," Mr Coburn said.

"At the moment he doesn't know what the particulars of the allegations are.

"Until he is provided with those particulars, well then he can't provide a response to us or provide us with any meaningful instructions."

The Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane released a statement which confirmed a retired priest had been charged.

However, would not comment further in relation to the allegations.

Later when questioned the church said it was not financing the man's legal costs.

"The priest is receiving the normal entitlements of any retired priest in the Archdiocese," a spokesman said.

"Separate from these proceedings, and in view of the Royal Commission soon to commence, it bears repeating the Catholic Church has a zero tolerance of sexual abuse and an unequivocal commitment to the highest standards of child protection."