Police Can Prosecute Child Sex Abuse: Ala

Perth Now
July 5, 2012

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/breaking-news/police-can-prosecute-child-sex-abuse-ala/story-e6frg13c-1226417899516

Police have no excuse for not pursuing allegations of child sex abuse in the Catholic Church, a lawyer's group says.

CLAIMS aired by the ABC's Four Corners program on Monday about abuse by a former Armidale priest known only as "Father F" have sparked calls by lawyers for a police investigation and a Royal Commission.

However, NSW police say they can only investigate if victims come forward and make a statement.

"In order to investigate allegations of child sexual abuse, police require any victims to come forward," they said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

But the Australian Lawyers Alliance says this is only "partially true".

"Father F had admitted in court to committing multiple instances of child sex abuse," ALA spokesman Dr Andrew Morrison said in a statement.

"There is no reason why his own sworn evidence would not warrant a prosecution."

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Anyone who had covered up abuse could also be prosecuted, he said.

"This could have serious consequences for a number of highly ranked clergy throughout Australia," said Dr Morrison.

A NSW police spokeswoman told AAP on Thursday that alleged cover-ups were a "separate matter" and police were not yet looking into this.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has rejected claims that senior priests failed to refer evidence of child sexual abuse to authorities 20 years ago.