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Top stories from Broken Rites, written by Broken Rites researchers
Broken Rites helped the victims of Father Gerald Ridsdale. Here is the full story.
Father Terrence Pidoto targeted boys for 25 years while church leaders looked the other way. Here is the full story from Broken Rites.
How victims of Father Desmond Laurence Gannon defeated a cover-up, with help from Broken Rites.
How the church covered up for Father Kevin O’Donnell — until Broken Rites helped the victims.
The Brother Brendan Carroll case: Two female victims force the Catholic Church to apologise, with help from Broken Rites.
Church kept pedophile priest Paul David Ryan — and one victim committed suicide. This is the full story from Broken Rites
Victims force the church to admit that prominent priest Ronald Pickering was an abuser. The full story from Broken Rites.
The church covered up the crimes of Monsignor John Day but now it admits that Broken Rites is right
After 30 years, the church is forced to say 'sorry' for Father Murray Wilson's assault of a 13-year-old schoolboy — with help from Broken Rites
A pedophile priest, John Sidney Denham, is brought to justice — with help from Broken Rites
Catholic religious Brothers accept sex-offenders as members: The case of Christian Brother Edward Dowlan, as researched by Broken Rites
The Marist Brothers recycled a sex-offender, Brother John Desmond Dyson, to a new position of trust. The full story from Broken Rites
Broken Rites research reveals how church leaders harboured an abusive priest — Father Wilfred Baker — and he continued to offend
Church leaders ordained a child-abuser — Father David Daniel — and knowingly retained him in the ministry. Full story from Broken Rites
Catholic Church leaders covered up the crimes of Father Gerard Mulvale, according to evidence presented in court. The full story from Broken Rites
Church celebrates a priest (Father Nazareno Fasciale) who admitted abusing girls and boys. The full story from Broken Rites
This priest, Father Adrian van Klooster, abused young people in two Australian states — and he had pornography on his computer, filed under 'Parish Business'. The full story from Broken Rites
Broken Rites research has revealed how the Marist Brothers appointed a child abuser, Gregory Vincent Coffey (or Coffin), as a school principal
Broken Rites exposes a cover-up: How Monsignor Patrick Cotter concealed a priest's crimes in the Maitland-Newcastle diocese
This 'traditionalist' priest was found dead in a sex cubicle in a 'men-only' club
This is a classic case-study in how the Catholic Church authorities in Australia harboured a priest, despite knowing that he was a danger to children.
The Armidale diocese in New South Wales protected this priest but now it has been forced to pay compensation to some of the victims
The story of an Australian altar boy, Damian James Jurd, who died in 2001 after his life had been severely damaged by church sexual-abuse
The tragic story of another Australian altar boy, Daniel William Powell, who committed suicide in 2007 after being a victim of church sexual abuse
Church used collection-plate money to defend a criminal priest, Father James Fletcher. The full story from Broken Rites
Church appointed this priest to administer a parish AFTER it gave an out-of-court settlement to an ex-pupil
A young female victim defeats the church's lawyers, with help from Broken Rites
Broken Rites helped to end a cover-up. The unmasking of the St Gerard Majella religious order
The Marist Brothers administration in Australia has apologised to two ex-pupils (Eoin Cameron and John Kelly) who encountered a senior Marist principal, Brother Bertinus, in Catholic boarding schools many years ago
Portrait of a child abuser: Brother Fintan Dwyer was the recruiting officer for the De La Salle Brothers
Report of an inquiry into an allegation of sexual abuse against Archbishop George Pell
Since it was formed in 1992, Broken Rites has been involved in numerous court cases, in which Catholic priests and brothers have been sentenced in Australia. These court cases are on the top half of the Black Collar Crime page. In addition, on the bottom half of the page, there are a number of out-of-court civil cases in which Broken Rites had an involvement or an interest.
Broken Rites researchers have compiled this list of cases, involving Catholic church leaders, that are currently in (or coming up in) Australian courts.
Other stories written by Broken Rites researchers
How Broken Rites helped victims of Marist Brother Brother Malcolm Hall)
Broken Rites research reveals how the De La Salle Brothers tolerated the crimes of Brother Ibar Keating
Broken Rites has researched Father Paul Rex Brown (once a senior priest in New South Wales) who was convicted for possessing child pornography.
Broken Rites research reveals the full story of Father Michael Charles Glennon, one of Australia's most notorious child-abusers
Broken Rites helped to expose an abusive priest, Fr Denis McAlinden, who was allowed to transfer from New South Wales to Western Australia
In 2008 an Australian family obtained a hand-written apology (signed by the alleged offender) for sexual abuse that allegedly happened to their son when he was a boarder (aged in his early teens) at St Patrick's College, Goulburn, New South Wales, in the late 1980s
A member of parliament has made a speech in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, quoting allegations that Christian Brother William Stuart Houston sexually abused a 12-year-old boy at St Augustine's orphanage, Geelong. The speech is printed in the Victorian Hansard archive of parliamentary speeches
Monsignor Penn Jones received high praise from his archbishop but now (thanks to Broken Rites) the church admits that Jones was an abuser
Ronald Conway — the celibate psychologist who helped to screen Catholic trainee priests in Melbourne
Father Neville Joseph Creen used his position and his standing in the community to hide his child-sex crimes (involving young girls) from the police, a Queensland court has been told
A Victorian Catholic priest, Father Daniel Dominic Hourigan, died three days after police charged him with sexual offences against a boy (posted 22 September 2008)
The Marist Brothers knew that Brother Gregory Carter had molested a boy but they kept Carter in the Marist Order and later allowed him to become a headmaster, according to documents tabled in a Queensland court (updated 15 October 2009)
A Melbourne priest, Father Anthony Eames, was finally convicted after committing offences against young girls for many years (posted 22 September 2008)
The second most senior clergyman in the Australian Catholic diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, Vicar-General Thomas Brennan, has been convicted of making a false written statement, saying that he could not remember a series of child sex-abuse complaints (in the 1970s) about other clergy (updated 19 March 2009)
On 8 July 2009, Father John Sidney Denham, of the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic diocese, pleaded guilty to multiple offences against boys. (2 January 2010)
Father Edmund John Haines (of the Melbourne Catholic archdiocese, based in the Geelong district) was jailed on child-sex and child-porn charges after he was caught with child porn recorded on his mobile phone (posted 5 November 2008).
This is the full story about Catholic priest Paul Raymond Evans, who was jailed on 3 October 2008 for offences against vulnerable teenagers at Boys' Town, near Sydney (posted 9 October 2008).
On 29 April 2010, Father Kelvin Gerald Sharkey (a priest of the Wollongong Catholic Diocese in New South Wales) was sentenced to a minimum 15 months in jail after pleading guilty to buggery and indecent assault of an altar boy.
Former pupils of Christian Brother Maurice Howard have not forgotten his activities at Catholic boys' schools in Victoria
West Victorian Catholic priest Father Bryan Desmond Coffey was indecently touching young children soon after taking his vows of celibacy, a court has been told (updated 6 August 2008).
Catholic priest Father Adelrick D'Cruz was convicted on 22 May 2008 after pleading guilty to indecently assaulting a teenage girl 24 years previously (posted 22 May 2008).
A former Catholic priest, Charles Alfred Barnett, from the Vincentian religious order, in court in South Australia on child-sex charges (updated 1 October 2009).
A Christian Brother, Peter John Toomey, molested students in public in their classroom (posted 27 April 2008).
The case of Marist Brother Norbert Mathieson demonstrates how church sex-abuse can continue affecting the victims and their families for many decades after the abuse (posted 29 March 2008).
Marist Brother Ross Francis Murrin sexually abused young schoolboys and one boy ended up as a drug addict, dying through an overdose when he was 22, a court has been told (updated 5 March 2010).
Ballarat Bishop James Patrick O'Collins transferred a sexually-abusive priest (Father Leonard Monk) to another diocese (updated 15 March 2008).
Father Sydney Morey was a sexually-abusive priest who flourished in the Ballarat diocese in western Victoria (posted 15 March 2008).
Canberra's Marist College allowed a Marist Brother (Br. Kostka Chute) to continue working with boys even after the school learned that he was molesting students, a court has been told (posted 9 March 2008)
The Sydney Catholic hierarchy allowed a troublesome priest to roam free — and one victim later committed suicide (9 February 2008)
Monsignor James Murray pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a vulnerable woman but the church re-instated him (posted 9 February 2008)
Christian Brothers victims achieve justice after 40 years. The case of Brother Keith Weston(updated 9 February 2008)
This article, written for the Broken Rites website by a victim of the Christian Brothers, gives a victim's view of Catholic Church sex-abuse in Australia. (posted 9 February 2008)
Victims of Father Roger Michael Bellemore succeed in revealing their story to the public, despite an attempt by church lawyers to stop them (updated 1 March 2008)
Victims of Father Gregory Ferguson were intimidated into silence but now they obtain justice after 36 years (updated 6 January 2008)
Hospital chaplains are a health hazard, a woman patient says (updated 29th September 2007)
It is never too late to tell the police, according to victims at Adelaide's Blackfriars Priory School (updated 2nd August 2007)
A Tasmanian priest, Father Paul Anthony Connolly, who was in charge of preparing future priests, pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a child (updated 4 April 2008)
Father Tony Bongiorno talked about an 'old Spanish custom' — priests sexually abusing boys (10th September 2007)
The church allowed a sexually-abusive priest, Father Vincent Gerard Ryan, to have access to new victims in the Maitland-Newcastle diocese (10th September 2007)
This priest (an Archbishop's secretary) pleaded guilty (updated 18th August 2007)
This priest, Fr Bernard Maxwell Day, was removed from working in a girls' orphanage (updated 6th July, 2007)
The church apologises for what this priest, Father Dominic Fitzmaurice, did at a girls' school (updated 6th July, 2007)
Complaints about a priest, Father John Ignatius O'Callaghan, in a church youth movement (updated 6th July, 2007)
Church protected a convicted criminal, Father Frank Klep (updated 24th March, 2007)
Church employed a sex-abuser in schools for 50 years. How Brother Pius Bernard became Mr Raymond Logan
Marist Brother Gerard McNamara was an amateur masseur — until his victims told the police
Catholic priest Father Barry Gwillim damaged a teenager's life, says a judge
Sex abuse at two Christian Brothers orphanages in Victoria — St Augustine's and St Vincent's (24th May 2007)
Catholic religious Brothers abused the disabled (24th May 2007)
Church pays big money to lawyers to fight criminal charges (25th November 2006)
De La Salle Brothers provided a job-reference for a child-abuser
Cardinal George Pell under scrutiny over his handling of a priest's pastoral abuse
Parents disbelieved their own son: the case of Monsignor Philip Green
Former trainee priest jailed — he held "prayer meetings" for his victims
De La Salle Brothers apologise to a victim of Brother Wilfred De Cruz
A 'society' priest, Vincent Kiss, is jailed for abusing schoolboys (posted 15 March 2008).
Melbourne Catholic priest Father Paul Pavlou is convicted after he pleaded guilty to committing an indecent act with a 14-year-old boy and another charge of possessing child pornography (updated 10 August 2009)
Father Michael Francis Reis, 66 (a member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart religious order), was jailed in Brisbane on 6 November 2008 for offences against two young girls in the 1980s and 1990s (posted 7 November 2008)
Christian Brother Graeme James Down (alias Brother "David" Down) molested school boys in Western Australia in the 1980s and was jailed in 2007. Then more victims came forward, resulting in more jail time in 2008 (posted 11 November 2008)
The Catholic Church has admitted that a "highly respected" priest, Father Patrick Cusack, sexually molested primary school girls in the Canberra-Goulburn archdiocese during many years (posted 15 November 2008)
Father David O'Hearn, of the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic diocese, faces court on child-sex charges
After 40 years, a court considers allegations against Christian Brother Francis Lambert Wise (updated 4 August 2009)
Father Peter Chalk, a priest in the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart order, targeted young people in Melbourne in the 1970s.
Father Glenn Boyd, who formerly ministered in the Wagga Wagga Catholic Diocese (in southern New South Wales) has left the priesthood (posted 12 February 2009)
Father Julian Fox, of the Salesian religious order, has left Australia and now works overseas for the Salesians' international headquarters
Father Julian Fox, of the Salesian religious order, has been featured in an article in an Australian news magazine
A sex-offender from New Zealand, Father Magnus William Murray ("Max" Murray), was allowed to minister in an Australian parish (posted 1 March 2009)
The church was finally forced to distance itself from Father Peter Searson (updated 26 June 2009)
Christian Brother John Francis Coswello has been granted a re-trial regarding incidents in a Melbourne orphanage (updated 5 March 2010)
Christian Brother Damien John O'Dempsey was jailed for indecently dealing with a schoolboy
Christian Brother Rex Ignatius Elmer was jailed after pleading guilty to indecently assaulting boys at St Vincent's Boys' Home in South Melbourne (posted 17 July 2009)
Father Robert Fuller, Sydney Catholic priest, is jailed for seeking a 13-year-old girl, via the internet, for sexual purposes (updated 1 March 2010).
Father James Barry Whelan, Melbourne Catholic priest, is mentioned in a Melbourne court case (updated 22 August 2009).
A visiting Catholic priest, Father John Charles Houston, 54, admitted filming naked boys, without their permission, while they showered (updated 1 August 2009)
ANGLICAN CASE: One of Australia’s most prominent Anglican priests — Reverend James Stirling Murray — managed to survive complaints about him sexually abusing vulnerable boys (posted 2 October 2009)
Church hid Father Ronald McKeirnan's crimes for 30 years (article originally posted in 1999)
Broken Rites supporting sex-abuse victims of Father Reginald Durham at a Queensland orphanage (updated 27th March, 2007)
Father Robert Patrick Claffey indecently assaulted two boys at bed-time after their sister died in a road accident
(article posted in 1999).
Families disrupted by De La Salle Brother Luke Beltram
This offender, Christian Brother Terence Simpson, was re-cycled several times
(article posted in 1999)
Why did Father Daniel Lyne (a member of the Passionist Fathers) vanish from the Catholic priesthood? (Posted 4 February 2010)
In the 1970s and 1980s Father Brian Joseph Spillane was a priest in the Vincentian Fathers religious order in New South Wales, working at a Catholic boys’ boarding school and also in parishes. The NSW Office of Public Prosecutions is taking criminal-court action against Spillane on child-sex charges
Some background about Brother John Gaven, a member of the Vincentian religious order
William Stanley Irwin, originally a Catholic religious Brother in the Vincentian order, has appeared in a Sydney court, charged with gross indecency on a teenage male in 1986 (updated 5 March 2010).
Broken Rites has researched Father Hugh Edward Murray (a Catholic priest in the Vincentian religious order), who has been excused (because of health problems) from facing a trial in the Sydney District Court. Murray had been charged with five incidents of indecently assaulting three boys between 1966 and 1978 (updated 9 September 2010).
Catholic priest Kevin Francis Phillips (now in the Rockhampton diocese, Queensland) is involved in court proceedings in Sydney in 2010, charged with sexual offences allegedly committed at St Stanislaus' College in Bathurst NSW
(updated 5 March 2010)
Rick McPhillamy (a former assistant dormitory master at St Stanislaus College, Bathurst) is involved in court proceedings in Sydney, charged with having indecently assaulted a student on two occasions in 1985
In August 2010, Father Murray Alexander Moffat, of Brisbane, was jailed after pleading guilty to indecent treatment of a 12-year-old girl between 1977 and 1981.
Police in Newcastle, New South Wales, began investigating allegations that a priest (Fr Gerard Mackie) showed an explicit image to seven-year-old children at a government school during a "religious education" lesson (posted 15 September 2008).
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has appointed Father Peter Julian Brock (formerly a parish priest in the diocese of Maitland-Newcastle) to be the national Project Officer for the church’s "Year of Grace" which would be launched in mid-2012 (updated 2 March 2012).
Broken Rites is investigating the late Monsignor Maurice Tully in the
Armidale Catholic diocese in northern New South Wales. In the 1960s, as well as being in charge of a parish (at Quirindi), Tully was also the Vicar-General (the bishop's deputy) for the whole Armidale diocese — a powerful position which enabled him to cover up his own behaviour (posted 21 March 2012).
A Sydney suburban court in 1994 dismissed two charges of aggravated indecent assault that had been laid against Brother Edward Mamo, then aged 49, who was associated with the Nguon Song Group Homes, providing accommodation for Indo-Chinese teenage males in Sydney.
Earlier stories from Broken Rites, written by Broken Rites researchers
Marist Brother Francis Hesford had female victims (article posted in 1999)
A female victim's recovery after abuse by Marist Brother Francis Hesford (article posted in 1999)
Marist Brother Brian Robert Gordon told a victim to say three "Hail Marys" (article posted in 1999)
Father John O'Regan dies as the police swoop (article posted in 1999)
Church exposed young Aboriginals to abuse by Father Leo Wright (article posted in 1999)
Bishop knew about Father Patrick Cleary's crimes (article posted in 1999)
The church ignored its own protocol — and a female victim is again victimised (posted in 1999)
Examples of some Anglican cases (posted in 1999)
In memory of Father Maurie Crocker, a brave priest who exposed child abuse (article posted in 1999)
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