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Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson announces return despite still facing charges of concealing child sex abuse in NSW in the 1970s

By Andrew Dowdell
Adelaide Now
December 31, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/j6uszlb

Catholic Archbishop Philip Wilson at Saint Francis Xavier’s Cathedral.
Photo by Tom Huntley

THE Archbishop of Adelaide, Philip Wilson, will return to his post next month despite still facing criminal charges of concealing child sexual abuse.

Archbishop Wilson has been on leave since March after he was charged by NSW Police with allegedly concealing sexual abuse perpetrated in the 1970s by paedophile priest James Patrick Fletcher.

Archbishop Wilson, who lived briefly with Fletcher in NSW in the early 1980s, has maintained a public silence since being charged.

However, on Wednesday he announced his return to his Archbishop duties in January through a letter addressed to “priests, deacons, religious and to all people of the Archdiocese of Adelaide”.

“Some people may disagree with my decision and I respect that,” Archbishop Wilson wrote.

“In no way should this decision be interpreted as my not taking this matter very seriously. On the contrary, I take the charge extremely seriously.”

Archbishop Wilson said despite returning to his post, he would take no part in duties involving professional standards and with the Truth, Justice and Healing Council until the criminal matter was resolved.

Vicar General Philip Marshall has acted as Archbishop for the past nine months.

However Archbishop Wilson said he believed it was time to return to his main role.

“It was appropriate that I take time on leave to enable me to reflect and consult widely about the charge,” he said.

“I have done so over the last 9 months and after deep thought, prayer and reflection, I have decided that it is now appropriate for me to end my leave and resume my duties as Archbishop of Adelaide.”

However, the decision was questioned by Dr Bernard Barrett, a spokesman for the Broken Rites support group for survivors of church sex abuse.

“When Archbishop Wilson stood aside in early 2015 to face the concealment charges, he was showing some leadership, plus some concern for the safety of children in the church’s care,” Dr Barrett said.

“Now his premature return raises some questions about his attitude. Church-abuse victims will be upset about this.”

Archbishop Wilson said part of his decision was based on uncertainty about how long the NSW criminal case could take to resolve.

“I cannot responsibly remain on leave indefinitely given my serious responsibilities as Archbishop of Adelaide. I have made a commitment in faith to the People of God in the Archdiocese of Adelaide and it is a commitment that I feel I can longer defer,” he said.

Archbishop Wilson also thanked those who had “expressed support and good

wishes during what has been a very trying and difficult time”.

“I am limited in the further comments I am able to make at this time because the matter is

still before the court but insofar as I am able to do so I will keep you all informed of any

updates,” he said.

In a hearing in Newcastle Local Court in early December, Archbishop Wilson’s lawyer claimed the prosecution case against him was “foredoomed to fail”.

Ian Temby, QC, argued for a permanent stay of the charges because there were no grounds for the case to proceed to trial.

Prosecutors allege a victim of paedophile Father Fletcher — who died in prison in 2006 — had told Archbishop Wilson of the sexual abuse in the 1970s.

At the time, Archbishop Wilson was a young priest who lived with Fletcher, but has denied any wrongdoing.

His lawyers argued the more than 40-year delay between the alleged offences and the charges made the case “unprecedented” and doomed to fail.

Archbishop Wilson is the highest ranking member of the Catholic Church in the world to be charged with concealing child sex offences.




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