Catholic priest charged with indecent assault

By Cathie Bell
Stuff
September 14, 2014

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/10497761/Catholic-priest-charged-with-indecent-assault

AIDAN KAY: Blenheim-based Catholic priest Aidan Kay has been charged with indecent assault.

Catholic parish priest Father Aidan Kay has been removed from duties after being charged with indecent assault.

The Blenheim-based priest is expected to be in court Tuesday.

Archdiocese vicar-general Monsignor Gerry Burns told parishioners at mass today that police had charged Kay, a Passionist priest who had been at St Mary's Parish since last year, with indecent assault following a complaint.

''As a result he has been removed from ministry. As this case is due before the courts, no further details will be discussed.''

The announcement was greeted by gasps and exclamations of horror. Parishioners were shocked by the news, and some at the vigil Mass were in tears.

Burns said the matter was ''very serious'' and both the archdiocese and the Passionist order were ''fully cooperating'' with police. Kay would not be returning to the parish.

''The police are handling it from here. It is before the courts.''

Burns would not discuss what the charge was.

A police spokeswoman confirmed a 71-year-old Blenheim man would appear in court on Tuesday for his first appearance on one charge of indecent assault on a male aged over 16 years of age.

Passionist provincial superior Father Tom McDonough, who flew from Australia after the police alerted the church to the charge, said he was very sad this was the occasion that had brought him to Blenheim.