AUSTRALIA
ABC News
Senior members of the Hunter Valley’s Catholic Church are today expected to front an inquiry into claims the diocese covered-up abuse by two paedophile priests.
The Special Commission has heard that members of the Maitland-Newcastle diocese knew about the abuse of Denis McAlinden for 50 years but did not tell police until 2003.
The inquiry was set up last year after senior policeman Peter Fox claimed the Church tried to protect McAlinden and another Hunter Valley priest, James Fletcher.
The public hearings will continue in Newcastle this morning after the former bishop, Michael Malone, gave further evidence in-camera yesterday.
Father James Saunders, a former advisor to bishop Malone, is scheduled to give evidence followed by Father William Burston and Monsignor Allan Hart.
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