AUSTRALIA
Broken Rites
By a Broken Rites researcher
(Article updated 23 July 2012)
Broken Rites Australia has researched a paedophile priest, Father Ronald Dennis Pickering, who was harboured in the Melbourne Catholic archdiocese for 36 years, while he committed sexual crimes against many boys in his parishes. Certain colleagues (including within the church hierarchy) knew about Pickering’s criminal behaviour but they discreetly remained silent.
When Broken Rites established its Australia-wide telephone hotline in late 1993, one of the first calls received was about Father Pickering. Broken Rites advised this caller (and also some subsequent callers) about strategies to obtain justice regarding Pickering’s abuse.
Some victims consulted the Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (SOCA) unit of the Victoria Police about Pickering.
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