Catholic Bishop expresses sadness as court doubles Denham's jail sentence

ABC News
January 25, 2015

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-26/catholic-bishop-expresses-sadness-as-court-doubles-denham27s-j/6045748

Bill Wright, the Bishop of the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Diocese

The Catholic Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle has expressed sadness in relation to sex abuse committed by a priest, deemed one of Australia's worst paedophiles.

On Friday, 73-year-old defrocked priest John Sidney Denham had 13 years added to his jail sentence for the abuse of an additional 18 boys, mainly at Newcastle's St Pius High School.

In 2010 he was sentenced to 14 years jail for the abuse of 40 boys.

In a statement, Bishop Bill Wright said the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle "continues to be saddened by the terrible harm that he inflicted on so many innocent lives".

He says the Diocese continues to demonstrate its commitment to protect children through the funding of Zimmerman Services.

"I continue to personally promote the importance of each individual's responsibility in reporting suspected abuse," he said.

"The quality of the Diocese's ongoing cooperation with police has been the subject of evidence given to the 'Cunneen' Special Commission of Inquiry."