WA priest on trial for child sex offences, WA Today (August 18, 2014)

A Catholic priest denies raping a West Australian teenager more than 30 years ago but admits he has done some wrong things, a court has heard.

Glenn Humphreys, 61, is charged with abusing a boy between 1983 and 1986, when the boy was aged 15 to 17.

Defence lawyer Seamus Rafferty told the Perth District Court it was not disputed that on a few occasions in 1986, Humphreys had engaged in inappropriate behaviour.

But at the time, his actions were lawful and involved mutual touching, Mr Rafferty said in his opening statement.

Prosecutor James MacTaggart said Humphreys had indecently assaulted the victim without consent on several occasions while he was the assistant parish priest at a church in the southern suburb of Rockingham.

On one occasion Humphreys allegedly forced the victim to perform oral sex on him while at a youth group event, Mr MacTaggart said.

Mr MacTaggart said the accused also raped the boy while on a trip together to Quinns Rock and when the boy complained, told him that "maybe he wasn't ready for the church".

Mr Rafferty said Humphreys denied all charges and that the oral sex and the rape did not happen.

He said the victim was recalling events that happened more than 30 years ago and his evidence was not accurate.

And at the time of the events the victim kept going back to the church and whatever happened was done with consent, Mr Rafferty said.

Mr Rafferty said jurors should not be distracted by the fact that Humphreys is a Catholic priest and give him a fair trial.

The trial continues.