AUSTRALIA
Daily Mail
By AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
Two Sydney archbishops knew of pedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale’s “sexual problems” and that he should be kept away from children, an inquiry has heard.
The child sex abuse royal commission has also heard allegations raised during Ridsdale’s last court case that a victim believed another priest walked in while Ridsdale was sexually assaulting her.
Ballarat Bishop Ronald Mulkearns also knew Ridsdale was committing crimes and abusing children, the commission heard.
Ridsdale was sent out of Victoria, effectively to a desk job in Sydney, to get him away from parishes and access to children, senior counsel assisting the commission Gail Furness SC said on Thursday.
Documents before the commission show Bishop Mulkearns discussed with the new Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal Edward Clancy the conditions of Ridsdale’s transfer to Sydney, as agreed under his predecessor Cardinal Sir James Freeman.
The conditions were that Ridsdale worked at the Catholic Enquiry Centre, had no contact with children and continued with counselling.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.