AUSTRALIA
The Age
February 17, 2016
Timna Jacks
Education Reporter
A Mentone pastor has supported local families in their call for Father John Walshe’s resignation, stating that church leaders must always be held “accountable” for their actions.
Senior minister at Mentone Baptist Church, Murray Campbell, has hit out at a decision to allow Father Walshe to retain his position as the Catholic Mentone-Parkdale parish priest in a blog post.
The parish services two local schools – St Patrick’s School in Mentone and St John Vianney’s school in Parkdale.
Dozens of parents from both schools boycotted Mass in recent weeks, in protest against Father Walshe, who abused an 18-year-old seminarian shortly after he was ordained.
Despite the protests, Father Walshe has retained his position. Pastor Campbell described the church’s silence as “helpful as clanging cymbals being hit half a beat behind the rest of the band”.
The Catholic Church paid $75,000 compensation to John Roach in 2012, after the Catholic archdiocese of Melbourne accepted he had been sexually abused by Father John Walshe in 1982.
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