AUSTRALIA
9 News
Alexandra Pleffer, ninemsn
A priest who preyed on a disabled Sydney woman for 14 years has returned to the pulpit.
The Catholic Church apologised to Jennifer Herrick and paid her $100,000 in compensation for the “harm” Father Tom Knowles caused her during their 14-year secret sexual relationship.
But the church has now allowed Father Knowles to return to full duties at St Francis’ in Melbourne after about 16 months of “administrative leave”.
Ms Herrick, who has bilateral congenital hip dysplasia, says she felt powerless to refuse Father Knowles’ sexual advances because of his role as her family priest.
“I now understand that my very severe vulnerability allowed him to exploit me by abusing his priestly powerful position for nearly two decades for his sexual needs,” she told The Sydney Morning Herald.
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