Priest Pleads Not Guilty to Abuse Charges

SBS
February 20, 2015

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/02/20/priest-pleads-not-guilty-abuse-charges

The case of a Catholic bishop (R) charged with child sex offences is returning to a Perth court. (AAP)

The head of the Catholic Church's military diocese has pleaded not guilty to five additional child sex offences from more than 40 years ago.

Bishop Max Leroy Davis, 68, appeared briefly in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday where his lawyer Seamus Rafferty entered the pleas.

Davis has been charged with four counts each of indecently dealing with a boy under the age of 14 and committing indecent practices between males in public.

The offences against two complainants are alleged to have happened in 1969 when he was teaching at St Benedict's College in New Norcia, northeast of Perth.

It is understood Davis is the first Australian bishop and the most senior Australian church official to be charged with child sex offences.

He was not an ordained priest at the time of the alleged offences.

Davis had his bail renewed until his next court appearance in May.