Australian archbishop sentenced to a year's detention over sex abuse cover up

[webfact]

Australian archbishop sentenced to a year's detention over sex abuse cover up

By Tom Westbrook

 

Archbishop Philip Wilson leaves Newcastle Local Court, in Newcastle for sentencing, Australia, July 3, 2018. AAP/Darren Pateman/via REUTERS

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - An Australian archbishop, the most senior Catholic cleric in the world convicted of concealing child sex abuse in the church, was sentenced to a year in detention on Tuesday.

 

Philip Wilson, 67, will remain on bail while he is assessed by prison authorities for home detention, instead of jail, and will face court next month for a decision on where he will serve the sentence.

 

"There is no remorse or contrition shown by the offender," Newcastle Court Magistrate Robert Stone said of Wilson in emailed sentencing remarks.

 

"The offender is a senior figure in one of the most respected institutions in our society ... parishioners were betrayed most callously and cruelly because of their misplaced faith, trust and respect, not only by the perpetrator but as in this case by those who knew and concealed it."

 

Wilson was convicted in May of not disclosing to police abuse by another priest, James Fletcher, after being told about it in 1976 by two victims, including an altar boy who told him inside the confessional.

 

Fletcher was found guilty in 2004 of nine counts of child sexual abuse and died in jail in 2006 following a stroke.

 

Lawyers for Wilson, who maintained his innocence throughout the legal process, had argued that he did not know that Fletcher had abused a boy.

 

Although his sentence was shorter than a similar verdict in the United States and despite the fact he was not immediately jailed, it was still hailed as an important victory by abuse survivors.

 

"That is a landmark case right across the world ... the conviction sticks," Peter Creigh, who was abused by Fletcher, told reporters outside the court in Newcastle, north of Sydney.

 

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, the country's top Catholic body which Wilson once led, said in a statement on it hoped the sentence brought some "sense of peace and healing" to those abused.

 

Wilson faced a maximum term of two years in jail and the Newcastle Herald newspaper reported he showed no emotion in court when the sentence was handed down. Wilson will be eligible for parole after six months.

 

Dressed in black and wearing a cleric's collar, he made no remarks to journalists outside the court, television footage showed.

 

The court was told in December that Wilson had early stage Alzheimer's disease, a factor that may be taken in to account in determining where he serves the term.

 

Wilson only stood aside last month as the archbishop of Adelaide.

 

Allegations of sexual abuse cover ups have continued to rock the Catholic Church years after perpetrators of sexual abuse started regularly appearing before the courts.

 

In Chile, the country's 34 bishops in May offered to resign over allegations of a cover up of sexual abuse.

 

(Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Michael Perry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-07-03

[worgeordie]

Home detention is not jail,and he deserves jail.

regards worgeordie

[JoePai]

He deserves a good slapping    ?

[Baerboxer]

So conspiring to pervert the course of justice, protecting  sexual perverts, and actually facilitating their further crimes by concealing their previous ones and moving them around to new "hunting grounds" is worth 12 months?

 

Great decision Australian judge - not!!

 

He has shown no remorse or contrition - so presumably doesn't think he did anything wrong! Arrogance beyond words but typical of the Catholic church who wouldn't know the truth if it bit them.

 

Ah, the convenience of alzheimers. Not a problem with him being Archbishop of Adelaide but now conveniently comes to light.

 

Disappointing that it seems Catholic clergy and hierarchy are still treated ludicrously leniently by many justice systems.

 

 

[klauskunkel]

20 hours ago, webfact said:

In Chile, the country's 34 bishops in May offered to resign over allegations of a cover up of sexual abuse.

Don't just offer, do it. The institution you represent is is corrupt through and through, and has been so for ages.

[Mad mick]

2 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

So conspiring to pervert the course of justice, protecting  sexual perverts, and actually facilitating their further crimes by concealing their previous ones and moving them around to new "hunting grounds" is worth 12 months?

 

Great decision Australian judge - not!!

 

He has shown no remorse or contrition - so presumably doesn't think he did anything wrong! Arrogance beyond words but typical of the Catholic church who wouldn't know the truth if it bit them.

 

Ah, the convenience of alzheimers. Not a problem with him being Archbishop of Adelaide but now conveniently comes to light.

 

Disappointing that it seems Catholic clergy and hierarchy are still treated ludicrously leniently by many justice systems.

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

So conspiring to pervert the course of justice, protecting  sexual perverts, and actually facilitating their further crimes by concealing their previous ones and moving them around to new "hunting grounds" is worth 12 months?

 

Great decision Australian judge - not!!

 

He has shown no remorse or contrition - so presumably doesn't think he did anything wrong! Arrogance beyond words but typical of the Catholic church who wouldn't know the truth if it bit them.

 

Ah, the convenience of alzheimers. Not a problem with him being Archbishop of Adelaide but now conveniently comes to light.

 

Disappointing that it seems Catholic clergy and hierarchy are still treated ludicrously leniently by many justice systems.

 

 

YES That's Australia ? piss fkn weak 

[Gandtee]

Home detention? What sort of sentence is that? Many people old and infirm are confined to their homes as a norm. For a cleric I can't see this bring much difference to their normal life. He will still be well fed and have booze on tap whilst watching television. 

[Retiredandhappyhere]

It seems that it is not just the Catholic Church which protects its own, but the Australian Justice system , in considering "home detention"  in this case, is doing a damn good job in giving preferential treatment to an unrepentant offender, who in fact because of his special position, should receive the highest sentence available. 

 

As a previous poster pointed out, these newly discovered illnesses do not prevent these criminals from holding very senior positions but are apparently sufficiently serious to warrant special treatment when sentenced.

 

As a lapsed Catholic myself, I  am disgusted at the way the Catholic Church has behaved in the past and no doubt continues to behave behind closed doors.  Really, what should we expect from any organisation which attracts men who are prepared to voluntarily give up sex completely, at least in theory?  Catholic priests actually claim to be "married to Christ!"

[Andaman Al]

I hope Congressman Jim Jordan reads this little snippet.