Queensland Priest Steps down after He Is Charged with Sexual Offence That Happened in the 1990s

Daily Mail
May 31, 2017

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4557692/Queensland-priest-charged-sexual-assault.html

A Queensland priest charged with an historic sexual offence will appear in court in July.

Father Michael Joseph McKeaten withdrew from his duties earlier this month after notifying church authorities he had been charged over an alleged sexual offence believed to have occurred in the 1990s.

He was not required to appear at a hearing at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday with the matter adjourned to July 3.

Father Michael Joseph McKeaten will appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday

He is charged with one count of procuring a sexual act by false pretence.

A lawyer representing McKeaten declined to comment.

The priest was ordained 38 years ago and has served in parishes and schools across south-east Queensland, most recently at the Beaudesert parish - south of Brisbane.

He left after three years of service and was expected to relocate to Ipswich to oversee four parishes, the Beaudesert Times newspaper reported at the time.

Fr McKeaten had also served at Bulimba, St Stephen's Cathedral, Sunnybank, Stafford, Indooroopilly, Surfers Paradise, Booval and Annerley Ekibin parishes.

In 2012 he was appointed dean of Brisbane South Deanery and in 2014 was chairman of the committee for the Conference of the National Council of Priests.

A Queensland priest charged with an historic sexual offence will appear in court in July (Brisbane Magistrates Court pictured)