AUSTRALIA
Daily Examiner

Jessica Grewal 17th Dec 2013

THE Lismore Diocese is yet to receive instructions from the Vatican about what to do with a local priest who has alleged links to the child sex industry in Thailand, the royal commission has heard.

Lismore Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett told the commission he referred a priest to the Vatican after he was allegedly heard telling others of a place in Thailand where “under-age people were available to foreign visitors”.

Bishop Jarrett said he had reported the allegations between 2011 and 2012 but that he understood that a response could take some time.

A spokesperson for the Lismore Diocese confirmed on Monday that the allegations had also been referred to the ombudsman but could not say whether the priest remained in the area.