Catholic bishop charged with a child sex offence

AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald

June 29, 2014

Rachel Olding
Reporter

One of the most senior members of the Catholic Church has been charged with a child sex offence, the Church has confirmed.

Bishop Max Davis, who was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1998, has stood aside from his post as bishop of the Australian Defence Force while the matter is before a Western Australian court.

He has been charged with abusing a student at St Benedict’s College in New Norcia, Western Australia, in 1969 when he was a teacher at the school.

It is believed Bishop Davis, who was elected Military Ordinary Bishop of Australia in 2003, is the first bishop in Australia to be charged with child sexual assault.

“The bishop emphatically denies the allegation and the charge will be defended,” a statement from the Catholic Military Ordinariate of Australia said.

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