A retired Australian priest, Tom Brennan, has been arrested on charges of failing to report two serious cases of sexual abuse of two children.
Brennan, a former vicar-general in the NSW Maitland-Newcastle diocese, was school principal when former priest John Denham is alleged to have committed the sex offences in the 1970’s.
ABC reports Denham is yet to enter pleas to nearly 50 charges relating to 14 boys.
Sergeant Kristi Faber, detective in a task force that deals with cases of paedophilia in religious institutions, also accused Brennan of eight counts of sexual abuse against an eight-year-old boy, in a church where he was parish priest, between 1984 and 1985.
Described as a “milestone for Australia” by victims of paedophile priests spokesman, Doctor Bernard Barrett, it is believed this is the first time charges have been made against a religious leader of this level for failing to report alleged abuse.
ABC reports there are scores of clergy abuse victims in the Hunter Valley, prompting growing calls for a Royal Commission into sexual assaults by priests and while the State Opposition has backed the calls for the Royal Commission, NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell says police are best equipped to deal with the issue.
“We have active police investigations underway and nothing should happen that gets in the way,” O’Farrell said.
The Bishop of Newcastle, Bill Wright, issued a statement expressing his “profound sadness.”
“We must find the strength inside us to support those who expect the Church to explain the unexplainable,” he stated.
The charges have been laid only months after Monsignor William Lynn of Philadelphia was convicted and imprisoned for concealing the sex crimes of another priest.
Sources
- Vatican Insider
- ABC News
- SMH
- Image: SMH