Catholic Church Bans Disgraced Adelaide Priest, Father John Fleming, after High Court Verdict Upholds Guilty Ruling on Child Abuse

By Nigel Hunt
The Advertiser
February 9, 2017

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THE Catholic Church has permanently banned disgraced priest Father John Fleming from the pulpit — because it does not have the power to sack him.

Fleming, right, was formally advised of the move, made under Canon Law, on Thursday following the High Court’s unanimous dismissal of his bid to overturn damning legal judgments against him.

The move, which will stop Fleming from acting in ministry in any way, is the harshest sanction the Adelaide Diocese of the Catholic Church can take.

It is understood Vatican lawyers have advised Diocese leaders they do not have the jurisdiction to defrock Fleming, simply because his misconduct occurred while he was an Anglican priest.

“I was informed today that Father Fleming’s appeal to the High Court was dismissed,’’ Vicar General Father Philip Marshall said on Thursday night.

“I understand this was Father Fleming’s final avenue of appeal and, as such, the findings made in February 2016, by the honourable auxiliary Justice Gray remain undisturbed. In the light of this I have today issued a decree under Canon Law directing that Father Fleming cease all forms of ministry. The decree will have immediate effect.’’