Png Church Denies Hiding Paedophilia Suspect

Radio New Zealand
October 10, 2014

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/pacific/256635/png-church-denies-hiding-paedophilia-suspect

The Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea says it has been trying to get a priest accused of paedophilia to return to Australia for the past three years.

Father Roger Mount is accused of sexually abusing boys in children's homes in Australia in the 1960s and 70s.

Father Mount has been conducting Sunday Mass at the Sogeri Parish despite receiving a letter of suspension from the Archdiocese of Port Moresby in 2011.

The General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference in PNG Father Victor Roche, says arrangements have finally been made for the priest to arrive in Port Moresby before departing for Australia.

"The church is not hiding him. It has been very open regarding this and the church has been all the time issuing that he should go back. The church on the whole takes this quite seriously and we want Father Roger Mount to go back to Australia and face the charges."

However Father Roche says Father Mount has now been admitted to Port Moresby hospital after falling ill, delaying his departure.