ONE OF THE highest-ranked church officials convicted of covering up child sex abuse has been sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, but Philip Wilson could avoid jail after a court ordered he be assessed for home detention.
The Adelaide archbishop, 67, was found guilty in May of concealing abuse by notorious paedophile priest Jim Fletcher in the Hunter region of New South Wales state during the 1970s by failing to report allegations against him.
He denied the charges and his legal team made four attempts to have the case thrown out, arguing Wilson suffered from Alzheimer’s and so should avoid trial – even though the diagnosis did not prevent him retaining his position in the church.
Newcastle Local Court magistrate Robert Stone found him guilty of concealing a serious indictable offence of another person, concluding his primary motive was to protect the church.
The same court sentenced him to 12 months’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of six months.
But Stone adjourned the matter until 14 August to assess whether Wilson was suitable to serve the sentence at his sister’s home. The maximum sentence for the crime was two years in jail.
In sentencing, Stone said “there is no remorse or contrition showed by the offender”.
“I am of the opinion the sentence should not be suspended. It does not support the terms of general deterrence,” he added.
“On that basis, the only available remaining option is full-time imprisonment or home detention.”
He justified the home detention option due to Wilson’s age, prior good record and that he was unlikely to re-offend.
There was no dispute during the trial that Fletcher, who is now dead, sexually abused an altar boy, with the hearing focused on whether Wilson, then a junior priest, was told about it.
Wilson served as a priest in New South Wales before Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Wollongong in 1996. Five years later he became the Archbishop of Adelaide.
Following his conviction, Wilson stood down from his church duties pending sentencing but did not resign.
PAT SAYS:
We see from the cases of Archbishop Wilson and Cardinal Pell that Australia is leading the world in getting tough with the RC Church and tackling its many corruptions.
Wilson has been found guilty of covering up for an abusing priest who is now dead.
He has been sentenced to 12 months of DETENTION.
The judge is considering allowing him to spend that detention in the form of house detention.
If the judge and the law allow that in all cases, then there is no issue.
But if he is avoiding prison because he is an archbishop then that is unfair to all other prisoners.
More countries, including Ireland, need to take this line with the RC institution.
The way to clear up all kinds of corruption in the church is to see more photographs of bishops in handcuffs.
PAT SAYS:
We see from the cases of Archbishop Wilson and Cardinal Pell that Australia is leading the world in getting tough with the RC Church and tackling its many corruptions.
Wilson has been found guilty of covering up for an abusing priest who is now dead.
He has been sentenced to 12 months of DETENTION.
The judge is considering allowing him to spend that detention in the form of house detention.
If the judge and the law allow that in all cases, then there is no issue.
But if he is avoiding prison because he is an archbishop then that is unfair to all other prisoners.
More countries, including Ireland, need to take this line with the RC institution.
The way to clear up all kinds of corruption in the church is to see more photographs of bishops in handcuffs.
-------------------------------------------------
IS AMY TAKING BRENDAN MARSHALL OUT OF MAYNOOTH?
Some of his fellow seminarians in Maynooth are claiming that Amy Martin and college president, Fanny Mullaney, are taking Brendan Marshall out of Maynooth and sending him to The Irish College in Rome.
Readers will remember that Diarmuid Martin did the same with Gorgeous and Connor Gannon two years ago.
Both those gentlemen are now "left" altogether.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NEW BISHOP OF LANCASTER - PAUL SWARBRICK
1. There is no need to attack Paul Swarbrick or attracted unwanted attention. He is in his first weeks/months of ministry as Bishop and reports are positive.
ReplyDelete2. The Archbishop Wilson scenario is a clear sign that there is enough evidence for Sean Brady to be prosecuted with in a similar fashion. The facts are too similar to not prosecute.
one.hammered, if this sort of justice is implemented will not everyone who hushed up things in the 1970s go to jail, and not only clerics?
DeleteSeminary Reject Alert
DeleteAre you suggesting that this is only a 1970s phenomenon?
Delete23.36 Paul Swarbrick is one of the good guys. I didn't think much of Pa trick O'Donoghue or Michael Campbell. Lancaster deserves a good bishop and they have got one. There are far better pictures of him. His blog is very kind and down to earth. If you start on him I will begin to think badly of you. Just shoot the bad guys there are plenty of them.
DeleteOHL:re Wilson: same scenario perhaps but different jurisdiction. And Ireland, North or South is hardly a beacon of progressive legislation.
DeleteBut I concur with the sentiment.
@9.32 - not thst it is any of your business but when I left seminary I was asked to come back, my formation reports were excellent and my pastoral placement supervisor asked me to transfer to his order.
Delete@9.24 - that is correct, but only insofar as there is evidence beyond reasonable doubt. Such evidence is already in the public forum in relation to Sean Brady. It should be noted that in the Republic such crimes have extra-territorial jurisdiction too so the border is no bother.
Bp. Pat...I couldn’t agree more with your final comment regarding more photographs of bishops in handcuffs as a means of clearing up all kinds of corruption in the RC Institution. Why no bishop involved in clerical child sexual abuse criminalty in this jurisdiction was never taken to book, placed in the dock and shipped off to ‘the joy’ for a few terms is astonishing. It is a mighty mystery...up there with the third secret...! What’s the betting that deals were done under cover of darkness to avoid prosecutions! When I read about clerical child sexual criminality vis a vis bishops what comes to mind is aiding and abetting, accessories after the fact and criminal negligence. What also comes to mind is ‘millstones’ ‘white washed sepulchers’ and ‘honoring with lips but hearts far from me’! The hierarchy claimed to be on a learning curve in regards to child sexual abuse....even though the first recorded incidence in Church history dates back to around the third century! And the hierarchy are still on a learning curve! They’re very very very slow learners! Dumb di dumb di dumb! The true learning curve was what to do now that the crimes were in the public domain. That was the real learning curve. Outrageous stuff!
ReplyDeleteNot only the hierarchy but everyone was on a learning curve -- if every teacher or parent or cop or doctor who hushed up incidents in the 1970s were prosecuted our jails would be full.
DeleteRegarding the hierarchy covering up...it was Institutional systemic and widespread. Don’t try to minimise what was going on worldwide in the RC Church. It was policy and practice!
DeleteRelating to the comments at 49,28 & 53 above: no doubt there have been positive cover ups in addition to failures of ommision. But I also wonder about the extent of the naive failures to comprehend the true nature, extent and damaging consequences of sexual abuse and particularly the pernicious deviousness and recedivist behaviour of sexual abusers.
DeleteThis reflection is not to excuse but is an honest and self critical comment by a now long retired university post grad qualified social worker once a child protection specialist and team manager. In my early 1970's training it did not feature as an issue!
I think that only in recent years have the lead 'caring professions' (social work, nursing, medicine,) progressed from the 'rule of optimism ' to a more child centered protective stance, but the 'clerical profession lags far behind and beguiled by the omerta of brotherhood and to protect the institution.
09:28 Then fill them, with the guilty.😆
DeleteDon’t start about the new Bishop of Lancaster Pat. He is a good and holy Priest with a great sense of humour, unlike the previous regime of Michael Campbell and Robert Billing.
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for this Bishop. Yes, covering up abuse is abhorrent, but the Church and indeed Society was different in the 70’s. Home detention seems appropriate in this case.
ReplyDeleteShocking that this blog has now started on the Bishop of Lancaster a man loved by his Clergy, Religious and the laity.
ReplyDeleteAs for the picture it shows he is Human and Normal God Bless him in being the Faithful and True Shepherd of Lancaster.
Whoever sent the picture in needs to get a Life and should say a decade of the Rosary for the Bishop.
Nobody has "started" on anyone.
DeleteI said absolutely nothing about Swarbrick.
I simply published a photograph.
I think it's great that Campbell has gone.
And the Billings approach too - in more ways than one.
DeleteSave picture on file, +Pat, just in case it is needed for the rogues’ gallery at some future date.
DeleteThe same person that seems to be crowing on about not talking about the bishop of Lancaster should get a life.
ReplyDeleteBrendan Marshall is not welcome in Rome.
ReplyDeleteWhat if Amy and Mullaney insist?
DeleteThe seminairans in Rome do not want him. He is dangerous. He is like a virus that infects his surroundings.
DeleteWill the seminarians have any say?
DeleteYes. They would stage a walk out and pressure Mgr. Ciaran O’ Carroll into acting. Brendan is a bully who preys on impressionable seminarians. They do not want his gay flamboyant antics in the college.
DeleteHe NEEDS to go like the rest.
+Pat what has Brendan done? I live in a parish not very far away and I know him and he is a good lad and works hard.
DeleteIf Marshall is being sent to Rome it’s certainly not for his intellectual ability. He would be better suited to the Jesuit, Campion Hall, if it was still open. It was geared to help the intellectual inadequate.
DeleteThere are two people in Moneymore refusing to get OUT! 1. Brendan Marshall should get kicked out because he was s the source and summit of all mischief and gay goings on in Gaynooth. 2. McArdle who has been told to take sick leave by Amy and won’t go. He cries about having two Churches in his parish. This was confirmed in your leak of Armagh appointments which Amy has now abandoned until further notice
Delete12:42: Marshall studied at the university on the other side and recently posted he got a first I think. He also studied in the teaching college in Belfast before entering seminary. He also had ties with Martin McGuinness in work. You shouldn’t write stuff about people you don’t know.
DeleteI don’t know this guy but did you just say he was in the ra? ��
Delete2018 RA = LGBTQ
Delete13.05 What total and utter bunkum re: Marshall. He did not study at teaching college before Seminary, he was a glorified pen pusher in a housing office in Cookstown. He has no ties with McGuinness, although he has connections with Sinn Fein it’s like saying every Priest has ties with Pope Francis. Go and catch yourself on. Laughable attempts today trying to portray Marshall as something he is quite clearly not. People who know him in his locality simply refer to him as a ‘header’. He is the one that referred to king Puck as his bae!! Enough said.
DeleteWhoever this Marshall is there’s someone on here who hates him.
Delete14:35 I know he studied in St Marys in Belfast. I know that as fact as I was there also. I don’t think you know him very well. But I do! However, you sound like you have some issues yourself you need sorting out and maybe projecting your inner self. Housing office? Go somewhere else and compose lies and slander. Happy Wednesday!!
DeleteHave I hit a nerve Brendan
DeleteHe didn't qualify as a teacher. He exaggerates and has no link whatsoever to Martin McGuinness. He also advocated same sex marriage in a tweet which was photo shot. Amy's been sent numerous emails about this dangerous individual who stalks new seminarians and has sex with them.
Delete15.21 Jamie boy MMM McConnell hates everyone including his own family! Little hope for the rest of us!
DeleteAnd the man has all the time in the world as he has never worked a day in his life!
+Pat
ReplyDeleteBrendan Marshall did cause the Grindr scandal in Maynooth. He was cuaght in bed with a very vulnerable seminairan and got Conan expelled. He is not suiable and never will be.
10:25 (Seminarian reject). I’m an ex seminarian and Bren Marshall was the only guy that you could have a joke with but he can be serious too. These are lies and poor form if you ask me. I know Conan as well. Immature lad but he will be fine. Bren Marshall is a fine guy and he hung around with Byrne and Jones in my last year. Pat you would need to meet him to understand he’s not a bad guy really.
DeleteBrendan Marshall did not cause the Grindr scandal. Jones, Gannon and Horny Andy caused the Grindr scandal. Ronan Sheehan and Brendan were falsely accused. Ronan Sheehan and Brendan are men of good standing to this day!
DeleteI would be very happy to meet Brendan or any other seminarian or ex-seminarian.
Delete1117
DeleteThat is an interesting point of view.
Gannon and Horny Andy are gone = although the talk is that Horny Andy is getting a monthly stipend from a very senior Irish cleric.
Why do you think Joes was ordained???
11:03+ 11:47: Hi Brendan
DeleteHorny Andy has the D&C priests wrapped around his c~~k!
DeleteHe caused a lot of distress to the seminarians in Belfast with lies and false stories and accusations!
The priests like him but the seminarians both in Maynooth and Belfast dislike him a lot!
Jones was ordained simply to prove a point!
Ray is his boss and he will not have it any other way! Give people enough rope!! I would not be shocked if Andy is getting money from a cleric!
Bishop elect Tom D fell victim as did many others by his fake smiles, fake personality and fake SnapChat account!
Andy by far is a very dangerous individual!
11:28: Hi Anonymous
DeleteGive him a break he is extremely horney
Delete11:40 most of the D&C priests don’t even have a clue who this “Horny Andy” is.
DeleteNot too many priests bother with seminarians and would not know who is who among them. That’s the job of the formation men in St Malachy’s and Maynooth.
Priests have more than enough to do in their parishes.
No seminarian or priest in his right mind would touch you with a ten foot barge pole, Buckley.
DeleteYeah, I bet you would like to meet seminarians and ex seminarians. “Come into my parlour”, said the spider to the fly.
Pat how will you find out if he is in Rome since your roman source was expelled?
ReplyDelete??????
DeleteYou know, Pat...your roman source. Wink wink
Delete?????
DeleteWhat is your issue with Paul Swarbrick? The picture?
ReplyDeletePat, if you had one iota of Christian duty and responsibility - as any Bishop should- you would remove the image of Paul Swarbrick.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I could find many unflattering pictures of you, but they would in no way reflect the fruits of your ministry.
Please show some decorum and good taste, Swarbrick is a holy man - as told of in so many posts.
Gosh, are you the same boring person whinging on about Swarbrick.
DeleteIf an Australian judge permits this convicted archbishop to serve a soft 'prison' sentence, then he will send out a very clear signal that the Australian judiciary considers concealment of sexual offences against children by Roman Catholic clerics to be less serious than such offences committed by anyone else.
ReplyDeleteThe Law must show no favouritism. This man must serve his sentence in a prison, like any other guilty person.
Does Magna Carta know of convictions of "anyone else" in Australia?
DeleteHave a read of today's Indo pat!
ReplyDelete12.56: I agree with your request for Pat to delete photo of Bishop. It's only purpose is to invite caricaturing and ridicule, both which Pat delights in doing. The Bishop is a very good person and deserves respect.
ReplyDeleteNo, +Pat, leave up there as a warning to the old bone smuggler.
Delete13.01 - oh, did I really? DID I REALLY? You're talking BS and I've really had enough of it, to be honest
ReplyDeleteI apologise for my post at 14.15 - somehow I ended up posting on the wrong blog.
DeleteWhen I showed my mum the photo of Bishop Campbell all dressed up in the old style vestments and big mitre her remark was ‘ well for the love and honour of God and his Holy Mother would you look at yon big tumshie from Ronald Street’
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid your Mammy has lost her memory. Bishop Campbell was wearing The Vestments of The Roman Rite for the love and honor of God and His Holy Mother.That was the way all Bishops dressed before our liturgy was destroyed by the "Mad Mods Not the dreadful bed sheets we see Bishops wearing now!
DeleteBell End Bellarmine you sound like a right prissy lace queen. We no longer live or worship in an old stuffy museum, go and live in the past you dinosaur.
DeleteYou worship in an old folks museum if you go to the Novus Ordo lol. It's like going to a bingo hall, nothing but white-capped coffin dodgers.
DeleteAnonymous at 22:29
DeleteYou sound like a vicious mouthed happy clappy lefty old Queen. Who hasn't a clue about about liturgy unless your prancing about with a tambourine and making it up as you go along! go and live in your "mad mod" bubble you cretin!
20:32
DeleteYou dishonour the name of Roberto Bellarmino. He promoted the teachings of the Council of Trent on the basis of its authority as a General Council. The most recent General Councl is the only position in town. It’s supported by the pope.
Anonymous at 00:2
DeleteAre you MAD! there is a big difference between The Council of Trent and Vat II. St Robert Bellarmine along with his contemporary St Charles Borromeo were the great hero's of The Great Council of Trent which unified The Holy Church during The Counter Reformation. I don't think you can say that about Vat II just read this blog for proof of that.
Can somebody please tell how me these boys get into a seminary in the first place!
ReplyDeleteWhat is the process?
Who the heck takes them for the initial interview and the follow up interviews?
Are there any background checks done on them?
What the hell is going on!
I’m sick to the teeth with it all..
16.29 It starts with an open day or you approach your PP or the Vocations Director and that is followed up with weekends then meet the Bishop and that is you in in Ireland in Scotland you go to Spain for six months for assessment and if suitable then it is Oscott or Rome.
ReplyDeleteFr Sean Jones is a trailblazer for actively gay seminarians following their vocation to the priesthood. He's been very brave and has without retort taken dog's abuse from those who could learn much from the Pope's question "who am I to judge?".
ReplyDeleteI am convinced that in my lifetime the Church will be represented officially at Rome Pride, Belfast Pride etc etc.
And no doubt you believe in everlasting life......here on earth!
Delete17.56 Who will pay them? The laity won't. Part of the reason Catholic priests have had such standing is that they were celibate. The priesthood cannot degenerate into all boys together in frocks. Why should I pay for your frocks?
Delete19:16, 20:19 homophobes, much? The proper, trained formators in Maynooth and Rome see beyond sexuality, same-sex attraction and the occassional lapse. Many of the caring professions, such as nursing and teaching have traditionally attracted gay men. The priesthood is no different.
DeleteGay parishoners put into the collection plate too.
20.19: You are homophobic and quite ignorant. We don't need your filthy money. Use it to educate yourself properly. Usually creeps like you fantasize and are closet gays. What colour frock do you wear secretely? Purple? You phillistine (stupid,unlearned and thick)!
DeletePlease, Amy, don't send that pursed-lipped Queen, Marshall, to the Irish College. It had worked hard to shake off its gay bathhouse past, though sending Byrne and Gannon undid much of that. Another gay sem is the last thing the college needs. I can imagine Brendan creaming in his pants at the prospect of a move to Rome.
ReplyDeleteThe big danger is that the Marshalls of this world will be comforted by Sean Jones' progress and will cite his case if challenged.
#FrancisEffect. 58 French dioceses have no ordintions this year and Traditionalist priests now account for 20 per cent of ordinations in that country.
ReplyDeleteVatican II: the gift that keeps on giving.
Praise God, long may it continue!
DeleteTo the bitter end.
DeleteWe have had some lovely caring priests in magherafelt for example fr obyrne fr murphy,fr moore,fr oboyle they all had respect for the people @ the staff.But that all changed when hell upon earth under the guise of gates arrived in our parish in 2008,boy o boy little did we know what we were in for.He proceeded to destroy everything that the priests had built up over the years,now magherafelt is a wasteland full of hatred, bullied by gates and his cronies oh yes magherafelt parish is now cotrolled by gangsters.The people have had enough all eyes are on you gates your reign is coming to an end.
ReplyDeleteMagherafelt? Been there, done that. That dead horse has been well and truly flogged.
DeleteBig announcement for Dublin tomorrow. Keep ears opened..
ReplyDeleteTimbo to be an auxiliary bishop. Announcement at 12 noon, Roman time.
DeleteJoe McGuinness to be named to Clogher tomorrow 12 noon.
DeleteDo you remember that last week I revealed that there would be announcements this week as the Curia wrapped up business ahead of the long summer break. Further announcements will continue until the middle of this month.
Delete22.33 Joe McGuinness is off to Lourdes on Friday Morning with the Diocese.
DeleteNew Auxiliary for Armagh
ReplyDeleteI heard it’s Armagh too because Eamon is out of his depth. Needs someone to help steer the ship and get media advice. He has asked for help. Tim will spend a little time there keeping the ship afloat at Ara Coeli before being transferred to Dromore. Boyce wants out of Newry ASAP, is fed up already and wants back to his pad in Donegal. He’s taken the week off to be in Ballyliffin for the Irish Open.
ReplyDeleteBullshit... Rome haven't appointed Auxiliary Bishops from Francis came to office.
DeletePat stirring again!
More chance of that Video creep McConnell getting Auxiliary Bishop of Keady.
I’ve no idea whether the rumour is true or not, but it absolutely isn’t b*****it to say its possible. Rome hasn’t stopped appointing auxiliaries. D Martin in Dublin stopped asking for them, but they’re appointed all over the world every week. Francis appointed THREE auxiliaries to Chicago in one day this week!
Delete00:24 has been totally owned lol.
DeleteI sincerely hope this is a joke about Timbo -the parish dodging good for nothing - has done nothing to deserve a bishop's mitre!
ReplyDeleteJoe Mc Guinness is also out of his depth in Clogher. The place is going down the pan, morale is on the floor and he thinks everything is fine. Pathetic!
ReplyDeleteHe and Peter O'Reilly wore matchy-matchy cream albs at last Sunday's ordination to make themselves stand out from the pleb priests in boring old white. The retired headmaster turned permanent deacon tried to upstage the new priest. Why are permanent deacons never labourers or binmen? They are always of the teacher/librarian class.
ReplyDeleteThe jostling for position in Clogher is cringe worthy!!! P O' Reilly wants to be bishop, so does Joe Mc Guinness. The permanent deacon wants power and the Chancellor thinks he's going to become bishop. A bloody spectacle.....and to top it all off, Joe Duffy still thinks he's the bishop!
ReplyDeleteAs I predicted last week Irish Dioceses will soon realise that Permanent Deacons are a pain in the hole. They will try and upstage anyone near the altar.
ReplyDeletePriestly ministry is hardly about resistance to being upstaged. Read the gospels.,
DeleteDiaconal ministry is hardly about upstaging by a retired headmaster who fancies a second career in retirement. Pure clericalism. PDs are a total waste of time. The Fermanagh Herald reports that Donnelly will be doing funerals and weddings. People want Requiem and Nuptial Masses respectively, so he's as much use as a chocolate teapot.
DeleteTalking of parish dodgers, the latest Irish Catholic has a profile of Fr Niall Coll. He's never served in a parish and has been lecturing in Belfast for 17 years. I hope he blushed when he talked about the shortage of priests in parishes.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.irishcatholic.com/making-the-choice-of-faith/
The very concept of upstaging indicates you consider the priest to be the focus of attention. Is that why a priest is ordained - to make up for the lack of attention he got in childhood and adolescence?
ReplyDelete