Catholic Priest Denies Child Sex Allegations

By Joanne Mccarthy
Newcastle Herald
April 23, 2012

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/catholic-priest-denies-child-sex-allegations/2531589.aspx

A CATHOLIC priest defending lurid child sex allegations has accused his alleged victims of fabricating claims against him to obtain compensation from the Church.

The priest, who cannot be identified, says at least one of four men who made statements to police about alleged offences against them in the 1980s and 1990s made up claims.

The priest alleged known Catholic paedophile priests could have sexually assaulted the two men.

But a Sydney District Court jury heard yesterday it would have been easier for the men to obtain compensation if they had made allegations against the known paedophile priests.

‘‘If it was his motive to get money, why wouldn’t he [the alleged victim] just say [the name of a known paedophile priest]?’’ a barrister for the Crown said during summing up at the end of the five-week trial.

‘‘But he didn’t do that. He wanted to tell the truth he has waited 30 years to tell you.’’

The court heard the priest allegedly took photos of a naked boy, 8, because ‘‘he wanted to show it to another priest’’.

The priest is alleged to have sexually abused a boy at a camp for young boys and another boy in his room at a presbytery in regional NSW.

He is alleged to have repeatedly committed oral sex on a boy, aged 10.

The court heard the priest told the boy ‘‘this is our little secret’’ during early incidents in which the boy’s genitals were allegedly fondled.

After allegedly committing oral sex on the boy, the priest is alleged to have said ‘‘our little secret has now become a big secret. Don’t tell anyone, ever. No one’s going to believe you anyway’’.

The court heard parents repeatedly trusted the priest to counsel their boys and take them away on trips and camp for up to 10 days.

‘‘Their families trusted him. They looked up to him. He was their priest, mentor and friend and he betrayed them,’’ the Crown said.

The four alleged victims were from different parishes and did not know each other before making statements to police, the court heard.

A barrister for the priest told the jury it was not an easy trial but investigators had ‘‘got it wrong’’ in relation to allegations involving at least one of the victims.

The priest has pleaded not guilty to more than 20 charges, including sexual intercourse and indecent assault.

The jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict by the end of the week.