Melbourne Catholic Priest Charged over Historic Sex Abuse

By Pia Akerman
The Australian
April 22, 2013

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/in-depth/melbourne-catholic-priest-charged-over-historic-sex-abuse/story-fngburq5-1226625816666

[with video]

VICTORIAN Police have charged a Catholic priest with child sex offences after he returned to Melbourne from Rome.

Detectives from Taskforce Sano, which was established last year to deal with complaints arising from the Victorian inquiry into child sex abuse, arrested the 67-year-old man today in relation to alleged historic child sexual abuse matters committed between 1976 and 1985 in Sunbury and Ferntree Gully.

"Victoria Police have been negotiating with the Catholic Church since July 2012 to have the man returned from Rome," a police spokeswoman said.

"The return of this man to Victoria is considered a breakthrough in cooperation between the Victoria Police and the Catholic Church."

Victoria Police top brass have previously been highly critical of the church's attitude towards abuse investigations, claiming a lack of cooperation.

The priest was charged with 10 offences, including buggery, indecent assault and common law assault, after presenting himself to police with his lawyer.

He has been bailed by police to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday 26 April.

The Catholic Church is yet to give evidence to the Victorian parliamentary inquiry, which is this morning hearing from the Anglican church.