AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald
November 26, 2015
Beau Donelly
Former Melbourne Archbishop Frank Little “shut his eyes” to child sex abuse allegations against a priest, the royal commission has heard.
Appearing before the commission on Thursday, former head of the Catholic Education Office Monsignor Thomas Doyle accepted that the handling of allegations against clergy rested entirely on the judgment of the archbishop.
When asked by counsel assisting the commission, Stephen Fee, why the Archbishop failed to investigate complaints against Doveton parish priest Peter Searson, Monsignor Doyle said he believed his superior had an “exaggerated respect” for the priesthood.
“I think he was in some sort of denial that these things were happening,” he said.
“So he was shutting his eyes to it?” Mr Free asked.
“Yes”
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