Malcolm Turnbull Tells Pope to Sack Archbishop Philip Wilson after Court Ruling

Australian Broadcasting Corporation
July 20, 2018

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-19/turnbull-tells-pope-to-sack-bishop/10013348

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has called on the Pope to "sack" Adelaide's Archbishop Philip Wilson.

Wilson was convicted of covering up abuse by priest Jim Fletcher in the NSW Hunter region in the 1970s, making him the most senior Catholic in the world to be convicted of concealing sexual abuse.

He was sentenced to 12 months' detention, eligible for parole after six months, but has said he will lodge an appeal against his conviction.

The Archbishop has refused to quit his post, and Mr Turnbull has previously said Wilson should resign — a call echoed by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and South Australian Premier Steven Marshall.

Today the Prime Minister intensified the pressure on the Catholic Church by saying "the time has come for the Pope to sack him".

"There are many leaders that have called on him to resign, it is clear that he should resign," Mr Turnbull said.

He said it was time for "the ultimate authority in the church to take action and sack him".

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten backed the Prime Minister's appeal to the Pope.

"I agree with Mr Turnbull that Philip Wilson's position is untenable. If he doesn't have the decency to resign, then his superiors in the church should take action," he said.

"The community has spoken. The courts have spoken. Now it's time for the church to truly listen."

After his conviction, Wilson said he had stood aside from all of his duties and would resign if his appeal was unsuccessful.

"I am conscious of calls for me to resign and have taken them very seriously," Wilson said earlier in July.

"However, at this time, I am entitled to exercise my legal rights and to follow the due process of law.

"Since that process is not yet complete, I do not intend to resign at this time."

Port Pirie Bishop Greg O'Kelly was appointed by Pope Francis as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Adelaide last month, taking over responsibilities formerly in the hands of Wilson.

The president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Mark Coleridge said in a statement he respected Wilson's right to lodge an appeal, while highlighting the "ongoing pain this has caused survivors".

He said a number of survivors, prominent Australians and other members of the community have called on Wilson to resign.

"Although we have no authority to compel him to do so, a number of Australian bishops have also offered their advice privately," Archbishop Coleridge, who is also the Archbishop of Brisbane, said.

"Only the Pope can compel a bishop to resign."

PHOTO: Wilson had been known as 'The Healing Bishop' for his work with victims of child sexual abuse. (ABC News: Nancy Notzon)

The Prime Minister today met with the Catholic Archbishops of Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney to discuss education funding.

As he left the meeting, Archbishop Coleridge said Mr Turnbull was "free to speak his mind" on whether or not Wilson should resign.

When asked if he agreed with that view, Archbishop Colerdige replied: "I can neither agree or disagree.

"It's the Prime Minister's view and that's fine. It's up to [Wilson], it's his decision, only the Pope can intervene. The Prime Minister and others can have a point of view, and that's a good thing, but only the Pope can intervene."

He said Wilson had not been discussed during the meeting.

When asked about what he believed the public thought of an archbishop retaining his position despite being convicted of a crime, Archbishop Coleridge said: "I think there's probably very mixed public perception, but I presume most of it is negative".

Ruling could have widespread ramifications

During his trial, Wilson said no-one had ever come forward to tell him of allegations of child sex abuse during his 40 years as a clergyman.

However, Magistrate Robert Stone cast that claim aside in a ruling that could have ramifications in courts around the country.

Wilson's legal team made four attempts to have the case thrown out, arguing it was not in the public interest and that his diagnosis of Alzheimer's should preclude him from trial — although it did not preclude him from retaining his position in the church.

In his judgment, Mr Stone said the Archbishop's primary motive had been protecting the Catholic Church.

Wilson was the bishop of Wollongong before being elevated to Archbishop of Adelaide. He was also the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference.

During his time as the bishop of Wollongong, Wilson earned the nickname "The Healing Bishop" for his work with victims of child sexual abuse.