Bishop's Letter to Priest Revealed

By Ian Kirkwood
Newcastle Herald
July 14, 2013

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1636975/bishops-letter-to-priest-revealed/?cs=12

Former Maitland, Newcastle Bishop Michael Malone leaving Newcastle Supreme court after attending the Special Commission of Inquiry.

Read the letter here

See all the court transcripts and exhibits here

A LETTER from Bishop Michael Malone to paedophile priest Jim Fletcher, expanding his duties despite a warning from Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox, is one of a new set of documents made public by the Special Commission of Inquiry.

Public hearings are scheduled to resume in Newcastle at 9.30am on Monday after a closed session of evidence by Bishop Malone on Friday afternoon.

Monday's witness list has Father James Saunders and Father William Burston scheduled to give evidence after Bishop Malone.

Under the rules of the special commission, transcripts of public hearings are made available, along with a number of exhibits requested by the media.

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The commission heard last week that Mr Fox had asked Bishop Malone to stand Fletcher aside in mid-2002 after allegations of ‘‘multiple and violent sexual abuse’’ of a boy, AH, were made against him.

In exhibit 97 – a letter dated October 3, 2002, titled ‘‘Dear Jim’’ – Bishop Malone adds Lochinvar parish to Fletcher’s existing responsibilities at Branxton, thanking him for his ‘‘willingness’’ to do so.

‘‘Jim, don’t hesitate to engage appropriate assistance as required to relieve you of some of the burden.’’