Australia: Former Catholic Priest Hit With 64 More Sex Abuse Charges

As noted previously on this blog, governmental commissions in Australia are holding inquiries on sexual abuse of minors and, while not officially targeting the Roman Catholic Church, it goes without saying that given the continued sensational stories of abuse and cover up, the Catholic Church will receive most of the commissions' attention.  A new story in The Herald Sun  (in Victoria) underscores the incredible rot within the priesthood and those who put protecting the Church's image above the welfare and safety of children and youths.  Here are excerpts on one serial abuser protected by the Church hierarchy (yes, it is the same pattern we've seen world wide, and all orchestrated from the Vatican):

The 59-year-old man, known only as "the man" due to legal reasons, was due to appear on charges relating to alleged child-sex offences against six boys and three girls in the 1970s and 1980s.  During this appearance he was charged with an additional 64 offences including 11 counts of sexual intercourse without consent; 52 counts of indecent assault; and one count of committing an act of indecency.

The new charges relate to alleged assaults against one boy and two girls, aged from nine to 19, between 1982 and 1985 in Moree, Narrabri, Inverell and Armidale and come as part of ongoing investigations by Strike Force Glenroe, which was established in July last year to investigate claims of sexual abuse by the former priest, and comprises detectives from the Sex Crimes Squad and the New England and Barwon Local Area Commands.

The man is also at the centre of allegations of cover-ups of sexual abuse inside the Catholic Church after he told a court in 2004 he had made an admission to clergy in 1992 that he had performed oral sex on boys.

He was defrocked in 2005 but continued to live in Armidale before being arrested in October last year.   Strike Force Glenroe investigations are ongoing and detectives urge anyone with information to assist them to come forward.

One can only hope that this unfolding stories will convince Australian Catholics  to walk away from the Catholic Church and find less morally bankrupt religious institutions.  I cannot imagine continuing to financially support such a cesspool.