Melbourne Priest Bill Baker Dies While Facing More Charges

Ralph Cipriano
February 27, 2014

http://brokenrites.org.au/drupal/node/252

Father Wilfred James Baker, a retired priest from the Melbourne Catholic archdiocese, who was jailed in 1999 for crimes against boys, was scheduled to face the Melbourne County Court in 2014 (case number CR-13-01856) on additional charges regarding more boys. However, Baker died on 15 February 2014, meaning that this court case will be cancelled.

News of the death was kept secret for 12 days. Finally, a death notice appeared on the Melbourne Herald Sun website on February 27:

BAKER. Wilfred. Died peacefully at Ashwood Feb. 15, 2014, aged 77. A Private Funeral Service was held on Feb. 20, 2014.

Questions

Broken Rites would like to see answers to these questions:

Following his convictions in 1999 for child-sex crimes, did the Catholic Church authorities officially revoke Wilfred Baker's ordination as a priest? That is (to use the church's language), was he laicised? The answer apparently, is "No" (according to other Melbourne priests who have spoken to Broken Rites).

Where was the funeral service conducted? And conducted by whom?

Was Father Baker buried with his fellow deceased priests in the church's special vault for priests at the Melbourne General Cemetery? If so, why was he given this honour?

Background

The new criminal charges relate to the years between 1966 and 1979. These alleged offences took place in Melbourne and also during visits to Apollo Bay on Victoria's southwest coast and Maryborough in western Victoria.

The police investigation was conducted by detectives in Task Force Sano in the Sex Crime Squad, Flinders Street, Melbourne.

Bill Baker was born in Victoria on 1 July 1936. He was ordained a priest in 1961 for the Melbourne archdiocese. His earliest parish appointments (in the 1960s) included Jordanville, East Brighton, Mordialloc and Balaclava. His next appointments (in the 1970s) were hospital chaplaincy, followed by parishes at Doveton and Gladstone Park. His final parishes were Eltham (1978-92) and North Richmond (until 1999).