AUSTRALIA
Maitland Mercury
By NICK BIELBY Nov. 12, 2014
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The elevation of Archbishop Paul Gallagher to the third highest position in the Vatican is a slap in the face, says a Vacy man who suffered abuse at the hands of a former Hunter Catholic priest.
Peter Gogarty was abused by defrocked priest James Fletcher 40 years ago. Fletcher was convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault against children and his actions were investigated by a royal commission into child abuse within the Catholic church.
Archbishop Gallagher, who Pope Francis appointed the Vatican’s foreign minister this week, claimed diplomatic immunity in 2013 and refused to give prosecutors documents that related to Fletcher and another disgraced priest Dennis McAlinden.
Mr Gogarty told the Mercury he was not impressed with the appointment.
He said it appeared that the Catholic church had not only tolerated Archbishop Gallagher’s lack of co-operation in efforts to shine a light on institutional abuse, but had rewarded him for his actions.
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