Parents in uproar over priest accused of sexual assault

By Monique Hore
Herald Sun
January 31, 2017

https://goo.gl/Edwdbg

The parent committee at Mentone-Parkdale succeeded in getting Fr John Walshe to resign from their parish. Photo by David Crosling

St Finbar’s parish priest Father Ian Ranson moved to reassure parents in a letter sent by St Finbar’s Primary School last Wednesday.

A meeting has also been schedule for tomorrow to “address concerns” among parents.

“Fr John’s stay is dependent on his next appointment by the Archdiocese, and, as such, he won’t have any active role in the daily life of the parish and the school,” Fr Ranson said.

It prompted calls for a boycott by pupils of the first day at school on Tuesday.

Fr Walshe was accused of the early 1980s sexual assault of an 18-year-old seminarian, who reportedly later received a $75,000 payout. The priest, who denies abuse, resigned from the nearby Mentone-Parkdale Parish in December.

A meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow to “address concerns” among parents.

A parent with two children at the school said: “I don’t want him there — it doesn’t sit right with me.”

“We have a lot of unanswered questions because the email that was distributed by the school was very brief and left a lot of things up in the air,” the parent said.

“For us it boils down to why he has been sent to a parish that is still associated with a school.

“I don’t believe (my children) are at risk but, at the same time, why position him in a place where there could be an element of doubt?”.

A rumour among parents suggested the school was powerless but to accept the decision imposed upon it by the church hierarchy.

Catholic Education Melbourne executive director Stephen Elder said: “The principal and teachers are looking forward to working with the parish priest in what will be a very positive year for St Finbar’s.”