Vic Archbishop Did Nothing about Priest

Sky News
November 26, 2015

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/national/2015/11/26/vic-archbishop-did-nothing-about-priest.html

A parish priest should have been removed over his 'extremely alarming' behaviour but then Melbourne archbishop Frank Little did nothing, an inquiry has heard.

Former Catholic Education director Monsignor Thomas Doyle agreed Archbishop Little did nothing about parishioners' complaints about Doveton parish priest Peter Searson.

'In my opinion he should have be removed from the parish,' he said.

Monsignor Doyle said he expressed that view 'constantly to the archbishop'.

But royal commission chair Justice Peter McClellan asked Monsignor Doyle why he did not do more himself about Searson's 'extremely alarming' behaviour.

'I would have thought it was no use to go to the regional bishop. If I couldn't convince the archbishop I don't think the regional bishop could have either.'

Parishioners' concerns included Searson carrying a gun to school, threatening people with it, making children kneel between his knees during confession and recording the confessions.

Catholic Church authorities received hundreds of complaints about Father Searson's strange behaviour, both in Doveton and in his previous parish in Sunbury, the inquiry has heard.

Former Catholic Education Office (CEO) consultant Allan Dooley told the then principal of Doveton's Holy Family Primary School Graeme Sleeman and a teacher that their concern about Searson was substantial but not substantiated, an internal CEO memo said.

'Allan has pointed out to both Graeme and the teacher that while their concerns are substantial they are not substantiated and therefore it is difficult to take action,' the 1985 memo from Sister Joan Power to Monsignor Doyle said.

Justice McClellan told Monsignor Doyle the church and CEO had direct evidence.

'The simple fact is you had all the evidence you ever needed to substantiate the complaint didn't you?'

Monsignor Doyle said he would agree with hindsight but said the evidence was taken to the archbishop and vicar-general, who did not believe there was sufficient proof.

The church received child sex abuse complaints from four people against Searson, who died in 2009 and was never convicted.