Priest Charged with Abusing Boys in 1970s

9 News
July 3, 2013

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/07/03/14/32/priest-charged-with-abusing-boys-in-1970s

A former Catholic priest is out on bail after he was charged with sexually abusing young boys more than 40 years ago.

The 70-year-old from Wentworth Falls was charged on Tuesday with five counts of indecent assault against three boys, aged between 11 and 15, which allegedly occurred between 1971 and 1982.

The victims are now aged in their fifties, police said.

Acting Detective Inspector Adam Wilson said the victims were abused at parishes in Blacktown, St Marys and Richmond, as well as on church property in Shoalhaven on the NSW south coast.

He said the investigation into the abuse claims, which were first reported to police in December last year, will continue under Strike Force Nemesis, the unit investigating historical abuse.

"We would very much like to speak to other members of the public who have any additional information, particularly members of those parishes," he told reporters on Wednesday.

Detectives have not ruled out additional charges against the former priest, Insp Wilson said.

"Police always want to hear from any victim of a sex offence, no matter how long ago it is," he said.

Police said the Catholic Church had been cooperating with their inquiries.

The former priest was granted conditional bail and is due before Penrith Local Court in late July.