Catholic leaders told ACT abuse victim to ‘forgive’ father, police allege

AUSTRALIA
The Canberra Times

September 25, 2015

Christopher Knaus
Reporter for The Canberra Times.

Catholic community leaders told an alleged ACT child abuse victim to “forgive” her father and removed the religious mentor the girl had worked up the courage to confide in, police say.

The alleged abuser, now 73, was a leading member of a Canberra religious community closely linked to the Catholic Church, and stands accused of abusing a number of girls, including two of his own daughters.

The man, who has not been identified to protect his daughter, appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday, represented by lawyer Peter Woodhouse, and was committed for trial in the ACT Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to all charges.

Court documents allege the crimes took place in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, but were only brought to light recently as part of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

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