(MENAFN- NewsBytes)
Australian Archbishop guilty of covering up pedophilia incident stands down
23 May 2018
An Australian archbishop who was found guilty of covering up child sex abuse has announced today that he will stand down from his official duties.
Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson, 67, was accused of concealing abuse in the 1970s by notorious pedophile priest Jim Fletcher in New South Wales state by failing to report the allegations.
He, however, has denied the charges.
Here's more.
Wilson's legal team argues for Alzheimer diagnosis
Court Proceedings
Wilson's legal team had made four attempts to have the case thrown out, arguing his diagnosis of Alzheimer's should preclude him from the trial, though it didn't prevent him retaining his position in the church.
He is facing two years in jail.
"If at any point in time it becomes necessary for me to resign as Archbishop, then I will do so," Wilson said.
Abused alter boy breaks down after the verdict
Verdict
The hearing was focused on whether Wilson, then a junior priest, was told about the abuse of altar boy Peter Creigh by Fletcher.
The magistrate did not accept Wilson's defense that he did not remember the conversation and found Creigh, who broke down in tears after the verdict, "had no motive or interest to deceive or make up the conversation".
Child abuse survivor advocates hopeful
Fact
The child abuse survivor advocates are hopeful this case will have wide-ranging implications for other jurisdictions to begin investigating those who may have been aware of child abuse but failed to report it
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