AUSTRALIA
Newcastle Herald
[statement from Archbishop Wilson]
The Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide Philip Wilson says he’s disappointed that NSW police have decided to charge him with concealing child sex abuse.
‘‘The suggestion appears to be that I failed to bring to the attention of police a conversation I am alleged to have had in 1976, when I was a junior priest, that a now deceased priest had abused a child,’’ he said in a statement on Tuesday. From the time this was first brought to my attention last year, I have completely denied the allegation.’’
The archbishop said he intended to ‘‘vigorously defend my innocence’’ and had retained Ian Tenby SC to represent him in the judicial system.
He said he was unable to make any further comment.‘‘But I would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm my commitment to dealing proactively with the issue of child sexual abuse and the implementation of best-practice child protection measures which I have pioneered since becoming a bishop.’’
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