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Priest Allowed to Work with Youngsters Again Despite Being a Lifetime Ban after He Was Accused of Molesting Two Aboriginal Children

By Belinda Cleary
Daily Mail
July 1, 2016

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3670677/Priest-work-children-accused-molesting-two-Aboriginal-children.html

A former priest has won the right to work with children in his retirement despite being accused of molesting two teenage girls in the 1980s.

The former Australian priest, 68, was banned from working with children in 2014 when the Children’s Guardian found the historical allegations relating to two Aboriginal sisters.

He launched an appeal and won – because no police report had been filed over the alleged assaults, Newscorp reports.

The priest, whose identity has not been released, was accused of molesting two Aboriginal girls in the 1980s, file image

Family and Community Services Minister Brad Hazzard, pictured, wants the church to reconsider the priest's involvement with children

During the appeals process the man was allowed to continue working with children even though he had previously been banned.

The Children’s Guardian found workplace reports accusing the priest, known only as BQV, of theft and alcoholism.

Investigations into the clergyman also found he was part of the church’s Encompass program which has been known to shield paedophiles.

The alleged assaults included genital fondling and masturbation – and occurred between 1983 and 1984.

He was banned from working with children in 2014 but was allowed to have access as soon as he launched his appeal - he has since won that appeal, file image

One of the alleged victims was a ward of the state at the time. Family and Community Services Minister Brad Hazzard called on the Catholic Church to ‘reconsider the man’s involvement’ with children.

'(It should) do what it probably should have done years ago by erring on the side of protecting our kids and not the former priest,' he said.

The Children’s Guardian investigation revealed the church has come to ‘sustained’ findings over the alleged assaults in lieu of a police report.

 

 

 

 

 




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