Church to Provide Financial Support for Priest Caught with Child Pornography

By Steve Rice
The Courier-Mail
July 5, 2014

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/church-to-provide-financial-support-for-priest-caught-with-child-pornography/story-fnii5yv5-1226979041087

Father Stanislaus John Hogan, who has long been associated with St Ignatius College at Athelstone, has admitted accessing and possessing child pornography.

A CATHOLIC school priest caught with more than 1500 child pornography images will receive financial support so he is not made homeless, despite quitting the ministry.

Father Stanislaus John Hogan will be paid accommodation and cost-of-living expenses regardless of whether he is jailed, the Jesuit Provincial Society has confirmed.

Hogan, 69, has pleaded guilty to one count of using a carriage service to access child pornography and one aggravated count of possessing child pornography.

The District Court has heardpolice seized 1555 images and videos of children and teenagers aged between three and 16 years old in his bedroom at Saint Ignatius College in 2012.

In a letter to parents and guardians of students at the Athelstone college, Father Stephen Curtin of the Jesuit Provincial Society said Hogan had asked to be released from his priestly ministry.

Father Curtin said the society would “continue to provide support for (Hogan’s) welfare into the future”.

“Stan Hogan sees that life for him as a cleric and as a member of the Jesuits is no longer tenable,” Father Curtin said.

“As an act of penitence, he will petition the Holy See for loss of his clerical status and dispensation from his religious vows.

“He will cease to Jesuit and he will not work as a priest again.”

When contacted by The Advertiser about the level of support Hogan would receive, Father Curtin said Hogan would, following a possible custodial sentence, “live in retirement as a layman with no priestly faculties in a Jesuit community in Australia”.

“Having been in the society all his adult life, Father Hogan has no assets, no income, no superannuation,” he said.

“The society believes it is only right and proper that Mr Hogan be so accommodated — board and lodging plus reasonable cost-of-living expenses.

“It would be unfair and unjust for Mr Hogan to be released on to the streets.”

Saint Ignatius College Rector Father Rob Davoren SJ said it was deeply saddened by events involving Hogan.

“While his admitted charges are not connected with anyone within the college, including students past or present, we are mindful of the dreadful nature of pornographic images involving children,” he said.

“Many in our college community remain disappointed and angered by revelations about Father Hogan.

“We will continue to communicate openly with our community and offer our care and support to anyone at any time.”

Hogan will be sentenced later.