AUSTRALIA
The Advertiser
AAP and staff writers, The Advertiser
October 13, 2016
ADELAIDE’S Catholic Archbishop has failed to stop criminal proceedings against him over claims he concealed a colleague’s sexual abuse of a young boy.
Archbishop Philip Wilson is charged with concealing information about the 1971 sexual assault of a 10-year-old boy by paedophile priest James Fletcher in the NSW town of Maitland.
At the time, Archbishop Wilson was a young priest who lived with Fletcher, but he has denied any wrongdoing.
In the NSW Supreme Court on Friday, Justice Monika Schmidt dismissed his appeal against a decision rejecting his bid to permanently halt the case.
Archbishop Wilson returned to his post in January after he voluntarily stepped down from his role when charges were filed in March 2015.
The prosecution claims Archbishop Wilson knew or had information that might have helped to secure a prosecution of Fletcher — who died in prison in 2006 — between 2004 to 2006.
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