AUSTRALIA
The Age

February 24, 2013

Nick McKenzie, Richard Baker

THE Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne has removed a leading Australian priest who sexually preyed on a disabled and vulnerable woman.

In an embarrassing backflip, the Melbourne Archdiocese has removed Father Tom Knowles from one of the nation’s busiest churches just weeks after reinstating him.

The move comes after revelations in Fairfax Media last month that a confidential church inquiry had found he had an improper sexual relationship with disabled woman Jennifer Herrick over a 14-year period in New South Wales.

As a result of this inquiry, Father Knowles was put on administrative leave for 16 months but was returned to active ministry in January this year.