AUSTRALIA
The Austrlian
Rebecca Puddy
Reporter
Adelaide
Worshippers have described the return of Catholic Archbishop Philip Wilson to his role as head of the Adelaide archdiocese as “wonderful”, despite criminal charges which allege he failed to report child sexual abuse committed by a priest.
Archbishop Wilson said mass yesterday at St John Vianney’s Church in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs, nearly a year after being charged by NSW police with concealing a serious offence involving clerical child-sex abuse in the Hunter Valley in 1976.
In a decision criticised by some senior church officials, he resumed saying mass in January after taking leave in March last year when the charges were laid.
Archbishop Wilson yesterday declined to respond to questions about his return to work.
Parishioner David Carey said he supported the archbishop’s return, saying it was good for him and for the church community.
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