Australia’s Catholic priests have issued an extraordinary appeal to the Pope to remove Archbishop Philip Wilson, saying his refusal to resign is “galling” to priests and the community.

The executive of the National Council of Priests of Australia “wholeheartedly” endorsed calls for Wilson’s resignation only a day after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten backed Hunter abuse survivor Peter Gogarty’s call for the Pope to sack the Adelaide archbishop, formally a Wollongong bishop.

In a strongly worded statement described by Mr Gogarty as a “landmark” for the Australian Catholic Church, the NCP slammed the archbishop for refusing to resign after he was convicted of failing to report child sex allegations about Hunter priest Jim Fletcher to police.

“When an accusation is levelled at a parish priest, or when he is charged with a criminal offence, he is automatically stood down until his guilt or innocence is established,” the NCP said in a statement released by chairman Father James Clarke.

“Archbishop Wilson remained in office for the duration of his trial. He only stood down after his conviction. This appearance of inequity is an affront to natural justice and galling to both priests and laity,” the NCP said.

Wilson’s position was “compromised” and the welfare of people in the Adelaide archdiocese “must take precedence over the desire of an individual to remain in office”, the NCP said.

Archbishop Wilson remained in office for the duration of his trial. He only stood down after his conviction. This appearance of inequity is an affront to natural justice and galling to both priests and laity.

National Council of Priests of Australia

“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 National Council of Priests requests that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, removes Archbishop Philip Wilson from his See.”

Mr Gogarty, who was sexually abused by Jim Fletcher, said he was “delighted and a bit stunned” by the strength of the priests’ statement which was “as much of a landmark for the Australian Catholic Church as Wilson’s conviction as a criminal”.

“This is a moral stand the priests are taking here. For the future of our community and the future of the church it’s a really good thing. It’s a sign we’re on the cusp of something really important for the community and the church after the royal commission,” Mr Gogarty said.

“It’s a significant step towards rebuilding the credibility of the church from the ground up. I talk about how people should apply the ‘What would Jesus do?’ test on these really serious issues, rather than just toe the church line, and the priests have done it here. They’ve reflected on what the community has said on Wilson and they’ve spoken up and I really appreciate them for having the fortitude to say it. I think Jesus would be well pleased with his priests for this.”

Mr Gogarty said events of the past 48 hours showed “the momentum is building to a point where everyone except the archbishop has come to the conclusion his position is entirely untenable”.

“What Wilson is doing in not resigning is saying this is all about him rather than what’s good for the church, the community and people who have suffered abuse.

This is a moral stand the priests are taking here. For the future of our community and the future of the church it’s a really good thing.

Hunter abuse survivor Peter Gogarty

“He’s lost the confidence of Australia’s political leaders, some of the bishops and now Australia’s priests.”

Priests were “on the front line on the child sexual abuse issue, probably copping it more than the bishops because they have to stand up in front of people in church every week”, Mr Gogarty said.

Wilson, 67, indicated he would appeal his conviction after Newcastle magistrate Robert Stone sentenced him to 12 months’ jail on July 3, after finding the archbishop had shown no remorse or contrition. Wilson’s primary motive for failing to tell police in 2004 about alleged offences by Fletcher in the 1970s was to protect the church, Mr Stone said.

He is the most senior Catholic cleric in the world to be convicted of concealing a priest’s child sex crimes.