High-profile Priest Fr Julian Fox in Court on Child Sex Charges
By Shannon Deery
THE former Australian head of the second largest Catholic order in the world has appeared in court charged with child sex crimes. Fr Julian Fox appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court this morning for a brief administrative hearing where 10 charges were filed with the court. He was been charged with offences, including buggery, indecent assault and common law assault, after returning from Rome last Friday. Police allege the 67-year-old former principal assaulted students at Salesian College, Rupertswood, between 1976 and 1985. Fr Fox, a former principal of the college, moved to Fiji in 1999 before allegations of child sexual abuse were made public. He later moved to Rome, where he worked for the Salesian head office, 10km from the Vatican. Allegations have been levelled at the Salesians that they knowingly let Fr Fox relocate to Rome after accusations were made against him. In 2004 the Australian chapter was engulfed in global scandal after it was alleged local superiors moved priests accused of sexual assaults across international and state borders. Fr Fox is the third Salesian priest to be arrested in less than 12 months. Detectives had been negotiating with the Catholic Church since July 2012 to have him returned from Rome. He has been bailed by police to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court in July and must report to police weekly. Contact: Shannon.deery@news.com.au
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