Former Salesian Priest David Rapson Faces New Charges for Sex Offences after Being Ordered to Stand Trial

By Shannon Deery
Courier Mail
April 12, 2013

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/former-salesian-priest-david-rapson-faces-new-charges-for-sex-offences-after-being-ordered-to-stand-trial/story-e6freon6-1226619060555

A FORMER Salesian priest ordered to stand trial over a string of alleged sex crimes has been charged with fresh sex offences.

David Rapson, 59, was last year ordered to stand trial at the County Court after being charged with abusing seven young boys at Salesian College Rupertswood, in Sunbury, between 1973 and 1990.

He is facing charges of rape, gross indecency, and indecent assault.

The former vice principal has now been charged with more offences after a new victim made fresh allegations to new police taskforce SANO.

The taskforce was set up last year to investigate historical and new allegations that have emanated from the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into child sex abuse.

At a filing hearing at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this morning Mr Rapson was ordered to appear at court in June over the new matters.

Accused former priest 'blamed God'

Mr Rapson, who is on summons, was not required to appear in person today.

Police allege the new offences were also committed during Mr Rapson’s time at Rupertswood.

At a committal hearing last November the court heard Mr Rapson blamed God for the alleged offending.

``God made us this way and it is his fault,” he allegedly told another priest according to one witness.

The Herald Sun has previously revealed up to seven priests and brothers at the college have been linked to secret payouts to students who alleged they were abused between the 1960s and the 1990s.

In 2004, the Australian chapter of the Salesians was engulfed in global scandal after it was alleged local superiors had moved priests accused of sexual assaults across international and state borders to evade authorities.

Contact: shannon.deery@news.com.au