AUSTRALIA
Digital Journal
BY GRETA MCCLAIN
A senior Roman Catholic Bishop who is head of the Australian Defence Force military diocese, has been arrested by Western Australian police and charged with sexual assault.
Bishop Max Davis, 68-years-old, is charged with sexually assaulting a student at St. Benedict’s College in New Norcia in 1969. The alleged assault occurred when Davis was a teacher and the school, and prior to Davis being ordained as a Catholic priest.
The charges and arrest were confirmed in a statement by the Catholic Military Ordinariate of Australia, which stated:
“An allegation has been made to the police that in 1969 Bishop Max Davis abused a student at St. Benedict’s College in New Nocria. At that time – 45 years ago – the bishop was not ordained. The bishop emphatically denies the allegation and the charge will be defended.”
According to The Guardian, Davis is thought to be the highest ranking Catholic clergy to be charged with a sexual offence, and is believed to be the first Australian Catholic clergy to be charged with such an offense.
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