Priest Molested Homesick Boy at Vic Camp

By Caroline Schelle
Associated Press
March 27, 2019

https://catholicoutlook.org/call-for-lay-voices-at-lecture/

A boy was homesick and upset during a Victorian school camp when a priest molested him more than 40 years ago.

Notorious pedophile priest and teacher Frank Gerard Klep admitted abusing the boy at a Salesian College camp at Dromana in the 1970s.

It was the second night of the camp and the 12-year-old boy was upset and homesick when Klep came and sat on his bed.

The priest initially started to comfort the boy, but then molested him.

"The accused's actions left him (the victim) shocked and numb," prosecutor Stephen Devlin told the Victorian County Court on Wednesday.

Klep also ingratiated himself with the boy's family, helping his mother get a job at the college, Mr Devlin said.

Another victim was assaulted when he went to the school's sick bay.

"The anger inside me at times is overwhelming," the survivor said in a statement read out to the court.

"I have no friends and find it impossible to trust anyone."

Klep, 75, pleaded guilty to two additional charges of indecent assault in the Victorian County Court on Wednesday after the victims came forward.

The latest charges come after Klep pleaded guilty on March 7 to three counts of indecent assault - relating to other boys - at the Salesian College.

Defence barrister Tony Trood conceded a sentence of imprisonment was warranted for the charges.

But he said Klep's advanced age and remorse should be considered when he was sentenced.

However, Judge Gabriele Cannon said he had lived some of his best years in the community despite his actions.

"He mangled the lives of many people," she said.

Klep has previously been convicted and jailed for abusing 28 schoolboys. In 2006 he was removed from being a member of the clergy by the Salesians.

He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month.