National Council of Priests of Australia ask Pope to sack Philip Wilson as Adelaide archbishop

By Elizabeth Henson
Advertiser
July 20, 2018

https://bit.ly/2mEs4dV

Archbishop Bishop Philip Wilson.

The council is appealing to Pope Francis to step in and fire Wilson, 67.

“For the good of the church in Australia and for the benefit of the people of God in the Archdiocese of Adelaide, the executive of the (council) requests that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, removes Archbishop Philip Wilson from his See,” the council said in a statement on Friday evening.

It came a day after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also lobbied the Pope to fire Wilson, who was sentenced to 12 months’ jail over his silence about a paedophile priest’s sex offending.

He was convicted of concealing Father James “Jim” Fletcher’s “serious indictable” crime from authorities between April 2004 and January 2006 at East Maitland, near Newcastle.

Wilson avoided an immediate jail term and NSW Corrections authorities are currently assessing his suitability for home detention.

If deemed inappropriate, he could be ordered into custody next month.

He has confirmed he will appeal his conviction.

However, the council said Wilson must be dismissed from his position.

“While the Archbishop is exercising his constitutional right to appeal his conviction, his tenure as Archbishop of Adelaide has been compromised,” its statement read.

“The welfare of the People of God of the Archdiocese of Adelaide must take precedence over the desire of an individual to remain in office.”

The council went on to highlight that when an accusation was levelled at a parish priest or when they are charged with a criminal offence, they would be automatically stood down until guilt or innocence was established.

“Archbishop Wilson remained in office for the duration of his trial,” the statement read.

“He only stood down after his conviction.

“This appearance of inequity is an affront to natural justice and galling to both priests and laity.”