MELBOURNE (AUSTRALIA)
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
December 5, 2017
By Nicole Asher
The former Melbourne Catholic Archbishop Frank Little led a culture of secrecy to protect the interests of the church ahead of abuse victims, the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse has concluded.
A report released by the royal commission today details how Archbishop Little covered up abuse allegations and moved offending priests to other parishes, where they continued to offend.
The report follows public hearings last year, where the royal commission was told of abuse allegations against seven priests in the Melbourne Archdiocese, including Father Peter Searson.
Father Little moved Father Searson from the Sunbury Parish after a string of allegations in the decade to 1984, including accusations he raped a woman, and threatened a girl with a knife.
He was moved to Doveton Parish where he continued to be the subject of complaints.
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