AUSTRALIA
7 News
By Lindy Kerin, ABC
July 4, 2012
After initially backing three priests accused of covering up the sexual abuse of altar boys in New South Wales, the Catholic Church has now issued a statement saying it has begun fresh inquiries.
Two of the priests accused of turning a blind eye to the sexual abuse of children in Moree and Parramatta deny they ever heard the accused, known as Father F, admit his guilt.
But an internal document written at the time prepared by the third priest goes as far as listing the sex acts involved.
The Broken Rites support group for sex abuse victims has condemned all the priests for not notifying police, and has renewed its calls for a Royal Commission into the Church’s handling of sex abuse allegations.
On on Monday night, Australia’s most prominent Catholic, Sydney Archbishop Cardinal George Pell, defended the three senior priests: Father Brian Lucas, Father John Usher and Father Wayne Peters.
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