AUSTRALIA
The Age
Timna Jacks
Controversial Melbourne figure Father John Walshe has resigned from his position as parish priest in Melbourne’s south east, following a parent-led campaign calling for him to step down.
In a bulletin leaked to Fairfax Media on Friday, Father Walsh announced he would be stepping down after nearly 25 years in the job.
The news was to be circulated at the Mentone-Parkdale parish mass on Saturday evening.
“I have this week, with the agreement of the archbishop, submitted my resignation from the office of parish priest of the Parish of Mentone-Parkdale,” he said in the statement.
“This will take effect from 18 January 2017.
“I wanted to communicate this to you as soon as possible. When I leave early next year I will be four days short of having completed 25 years in the parish. It has been my immense honour to have been with you for this time.” …
The resignation comes after revelations Father Walshe was banned from ministering in Ireland for committing an act of sexual abuse, but was allowed to oversee two Catholic primary schools by the archbishop, who described the act as simply a “breach of his vow of celibacy”.
Father Walshe came under fire last year after he testified on behalf of Cardinal George Pell at the sexual abuse royal commission, which was investigating claims then Bishop Pell tried to buy the silence of a victim of notorious paedophile Gerald Ridsdale in 1993.
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