Church Won't Help Vic Priest up for Parole

SBS
May 31, 2013

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1773128/Church-wont-help-Vic-priest-up-for-parole

A Victorian bishop say the Catholic Church will give no support to an ex-priest jailed for child sex abuse, Gerald Ridsdale, if he is released on parole.

The Catholic Church will give no support to a former priest jailed over child sex abuse if he is released next month, a Victorian bishop says.

Former Victorian Catholic priest Gerald Ridsdale is eligible for parole from late next month after serving a long prison sentence for abusing 30 boys between 1961 and 1987.

Ballarat Bishop Paul Bird said the church was under no obligation to provide support and would not be providing support to Ridsdale, as he was laicised in 1993.

"If he is released on parole, which is a matter for the appropriate authorities, the Ballarat diocese has no obligation to provide any support for him, and has no intention of doing so," Bishop Bird said in a statement on Friday.

Police interviewed the 79-year-old on Thursday over historical child sex abuse allegedly committed in the 1960s and 1970s, when he was working as a Catholic priest.

But no further charges have been laid.

The Adult Parole Board will hear submissions from Ridsdale's known victims before it considers the case for his early release.

It has not made a decision about his suitability for release.

Victim Stephen Woods will write to the board to urge it to uphold Ridsdale's full sentence which means he wouldn't be released until 2019.

"Because he hasn't come forward and been open and candid about the crimes he has committed and how the church has covered up and who covered up for him, he should serve the full time," Mr Woods said.