AUSTRALIA
Herald Sun
THE Catholic Church has cleared a priest accused of raping breakaway Anglican Archbishop John Hepworth more than 40 years ago to resume parish duties.
Monsignor Ian Dempsey has resumed duties at the Hallett Cove and Brighton parishes, despite an ongoing police sex-crimes investigation, The Australian reported today.
Vicar-General Philip Marshall defended the decision to allow Monsignor Dempsey to resume ministry on the basis an independent investigation by Michael Abbott QC last year found no substance to the allegations.
The Advertiser revealed earlier this month that the Director of Public Prosecutions, Adam Kimber, was considering whether to lay charges against Monsignor Dempsey.
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