AUSTRALIA
Newcastle Herald
By IAN KIRKWOOD July 12, 2013
BISHOP Michael Malone has admitted to defying Church Canon law by not destroying secret priest files in accordance with an edict from Rome.
Resuming in the witness box on Friday Bishop Malone was again taken to his knowledge of events relating to paedophile priests Denis McAlinden and Jim Fletcher.
As has been the case for the past two days Bishop Malone has answered many questions from counsel assisting Julia Lonergan by saying he could not recall the details of events of the time.
Ms Lonergan asked Bishop Malone about Canon law requiring him to destroy confidential documents relating to criminal charges over moral matters after a period of 10 years or upon the death of the priest concerned.
Only a text of the “definitive judgment” and a summary of the facts was to be kept.
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