Arsonists Sought in Connection with Fires at Three Australian Parishes

By Sharyn McCowen
National Catholic Reporter
April 2, 2015

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/AbuseTracker/Arsonists%20sought%20in%20connection%20with%20fires%20at%20three%20Australian%20parishes

Australian police are searching for an arsonist following suspicious fires at three Melbourne area churches with links to clerical sexual abuse.

Three blazes broke out in as many days, beginning in the suburb of Brighton with St. James Church, which was almost destroyed Monday. The church is included on the Australian National Heritage List.

St. Mary Church in St. Kilda East sustained minor damage from a fire believed to have been deliberately set around the same time.

The third incident was reported early Wednesday at St. Mary Church in Dandenong, where firefighters discovered separate fires at the altar and in a storeroom containing vestments. The church sustained more than $190,000 in damage, the fire department reported.

"At this stage, the fires are being investigated by the local crime investigation units," said Sgt. Kris Hamilton, Victoria Police spokesman.