Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson has been found guilty of covering up child sexual abuse, becoming the most senior Catholic Church official in the world to be found guilty of the charge.
Newcastle Local Court heard that Peter Creigh, a former altar boy, was abused in the 1970s by NSW Hunter region priest Jim Fletcher.
Creigh said he informed Wilson, then an assistant parish priest in East Maitland, of the abuse in 1976. However, no action was taken.
Creigh said he raised the issue with Wilson again several months later, but again, nothing was done.
Wilson’s lawyers did not dispute that Creigh was a victim of child sexual abuse, but argued that Wilson was totally unaware.
Magistrate Robert Stone found that argument “incomprehensible,” after finding that Creigh was a reliable witness who had no reason to lie about the discussions with Wilson.
Fletcher was arrested in 2004 for sexually abusing an altar boy.
Magistrate Stone ruled Wilson had “information that he knew or believed that might be of assistance,” at the time, but “the accused wanted to protect the church and its reputation”.
Wilson was found guilty on one count of concealing a serious indictable offence, and could face up to two years in jail. He is on bail, and is expected to face sentencing on June 19.
This article discusses sexual assault. If you would like to talk to a counsellor about rape, sexual assault or domestic violence, give the people over at 1800 RESPECT a call on 1800 737 732.
