AUSTRALIA
7 News
By Dan Cox, ABC
Updated July 1, 2013
A New South Wales inquiry into child sexual abuse in the Hunter Valley’s Catholic Church has heard that a boy was told to repent his sins after telling his priest he had been abused by clergy.
Part two of the inquiry got underway this morning and is investigating claims by senior policeman Peter Fox that the church did not cooperate with police over abuse allegations against two priests – Father James Fletcher and Father Dennis McAlinden – and instead tried to protect them.
In her opening remarks, counsel assisting the commission Julia Lonergan said the inquiry will hear evidence that a boy abused by McAlinden between the ages of five and nine told his Singleton parish priest about it during his first confession.
“This boy was given penance apparently for his sin in being abused by that priest,” she said.
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