Molest little kids, lose the medal.
Why is that even a question?
http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,18754975%255E2682,00.html
A FORMER Anglican priest who received an Order of Australia Medal for
community service may be stripped of his award after it was learned he
is a convicted pedophile.
The revelation comes after it emerged the Anglican Church has just
settled a substantial compensation payout to one of his victims.
The Council for the Order of Australia in Canberra has launched an
investigation after being advised by the Sunday Mail of the award
recipient's offences.
Court records reveal the man, in his 80s, was convicted of the
indecent assault of four boys aged between 13 and 17 in 1951.
He was sentenced to nine months' jail but released on parole after
serving just over four months in Yatala Labour Prison.
After his conviction, he was removed from his parish – which cannot be
identified because it will identify his victims – and delicensed by
the church.
Council for the Order of Australia secretary Malcolm Hazell confirmed
an inquiry had been launched and would be "expedited as quickly as
possible".
"When matters of criminality relating to recipients of awards in the
Order of Australia are brought to the attention of the council, issues
raised are investigated and considered by the council," he said.
"Investigations may include the background to the conviction, the
length of time elapsed since the conviction took place, whether
further offences have occurred, evidence of rehabilitation or attempts
to make good past action in the form of sustained contributions to the
community or other forms of redress".
The council would not comment when asked if any criminal record checks
had been made on the former priest before his award was made. The
findings of the investigation would be considered at a council meeting
in August.
The Sunday Mail has discovered that after being released from prison
the former priest spent several years in the Adelaide Hills, before
shifting to a country town.
He immersed himself in the community, at one stage heading several
organisations, and was subsequently awarded the Order of Australia
Medal for service to the community.
The man's past resurfaced in 2000 when another of his victims, now in
his 70s, reported his abuse to then Anglican Archbishop Ian George.
Abuse victim Peter has told the Sunday Mail the former priest started
abusing him in 1946 when he was just 14. The abuse occurred over a 3
½-year period.
"Contemporaries of mine were abused by him, too, and they gave
evidence at his trial," Peter said. "I didn't. I kept the matter a
secret. I never even told my parents. I was a bit naive to do anything
about it in those days. You respected priests as being someone a bit
out of the ordinary and I suppose I felt it was my responsibility to
do what he told me. He was an impressive character and you looked up
to him."
Peter said he he believed it was "absolutely disgusting" the former
priest had been awarded such a "high honour" and called for it to be
rescinded.
"Fancy getting an Order of Australia Medal when you are a convicted
pedophile and have been jailed for it," he said.
Peter said his lawyers had contacted Premier Mike Rann, asking him to
examine the matter.
"I have heard the Premier say his views on pedophilia and I think if
he knew this fellow had been given a medal he would be concerned about
it," Peter said.
Anglican Archbishop Jeffrey Driver yesterday confirmed the
compensation payout, but declined to comment on the case.
"We have been able to reach settlements with some victims in the
course of this year, including some other than those in the
Brandenberg case," he said.
Duncan Basheer Hannon lawyer Susan Litchfield says in her letter to Mr
Rann she is "appalled" to learn a man who was convicted of indecently
assaulting young boys would be awarded such an honour.
"I would have thought that a police record of such a serious nature
would immediately preclude inclusion in our country's highest
honours," she said.
Mr Rann's office declined to comment, other than to say it would be
forwarding the letter to the Honours Secretariat in Canberra.
While the former priest did discuss his conviction and award at length
when contacted by the Sunday Mail, he declined to offer any comment on
the record.
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Yang
a.a. #28
AthD (h.c.) conferred by the regents of the LCL
a.a. pastor #-273.15, the most frigid church of Celcius nee Kelvin
EAC Econometric Forecast and Sorcery Division
Proudly plonked by Lani Girl and Crazyalec (aka aka Yang's little poltregeist *****)
The Bush 'balanced' budget: 2 trillion and worsening
The Bush 'economic' policy: 12.5 million FEWER jobs than Clinton and counting
The Bush Iraq lie: -2350 GIs, one friend's co-worker's son and mounting
Having Bush ***** up my country: Worthless
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"Ahhhhhh, yessssssss, ummmmmmm - Alito, Alito, Alito"
-duke (duckgumbo@cox.net), aka PedophilEarl J Weber, 59
year old mateless, heirless biological failure
of Afton Oaks Apartment, Baton Rouge,who pussied
out of the Vietnam draft, showing his gay side
despite his avowed anti-gay bigotry
Contact duke's priest and ask
him why duke is such a racist:
http://www.stpatrickbr.org/
Father Gerard "Jerry" Martin
stpatrickbr<AT>bellsouth<DOT>net
Saint Patrick Catholic Church
12424 Brogdon Lane
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816
.
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