From the Daily Telegraph (Australia)
A CATHOLIC priest was appointed to a top teaching job at Parramatta's Campion College despite the church being aware of serious allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
Father John Fleming is under investigation by South Australia's Paedophile Task Force, over allegations he was sexually involved with a teenage girl in the 1970s.
Detectives have also taken statements from another woman and a man who were allegedly sexually involved with Father Fleming after seeking counselling from him.
A five-week investigation has revealed Cardinal George Pell was aware of the allegations concerning at least one victim before Father Fleming was appointed to head the Catholic teaching facility in 2005.
The investigation has also revealed that former Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide Leonard Faulkner and one of his officials knew that Father Fleming was the subject of serious allegations of misconduct prior to ordaining him a Catholic priest in 1995.
On Friday, Adelaide's Catholic Archbishop Philip Wilson called Father Fleming back to the city while an internal investigation is conducted into the handling of allegations.
The call was made after The Sunday Mail newspaper in Adelaide put questions to Archbishop Wilson's office on Wednesday.
``I am aware of the serious allegations which have been made,'' Archbishop Wilson responded in an emailed statement.
``I am aware of the serious allegations which have been made,'' Archbishop Wilson responded in an emailed statement.
``I have requested that the priest return to the Archdiocese to assist me with my enquiries.
``In the interests of due process, the Archdiocese of Adelaide cannot comment further at this stage.''
The alleged misconduct involving the two girls - one under-aged - occurred in the 1970s and Father Fleming's homosexual relationship with the man spanned a six-year period ending in 1981.
Senior police yesterday declined to comment, but it is known the file will be forwarded to the South Australian Director of Public Prosecutions.
Only the allegations involving the under-age girl are the subject of the police investigation, with the other two cases examined as part of that inquiry.
Only the allegations involving the under-age girl are the subject of the police investigation, with the other two cases examined as part of that inquiry.
The Sunday Telegraph has obtained the police statements of all three and interviewed them at length.
Father Fleming left Adelaide in 2005 after being appointed president of Campion College, Australia's first Catholic liberal arts teaching facility.
In a letter obtained by The Sunday Mail, Cardinal George Pell acknowleges the complaint against Father John Fleming from one victim.
Father Fleming left Adelaide in 2005 after being appointed president of Campion College, Australia's first Catholic liberal arts teaching facility.
In a letter obtained by The Sunday Mail, Cardinal George Pell acknowleges the complaint against Father John Fleming from one victim.
In that case Cardinal Pell wrote back in April 2004 and advised the victim to contact police.
``The allegations you make against Fr Fleming are of a very serious nature,'' Cardinal Pell wrote.
``They should be investigated by the police and I would encourage you strongly to pursue your complaint with them.''
The Sunday Telegraph attempted to gain a response from Father Fleming at his Sydney home on Thursday. He would not comment directly, but provided a written statement via his wife, Alison.
The Sunday Telegraph attempted to gain a response from Father Fleming at his Sydney home on Thursday. He would not comment directly, but provided a written statement via his wife, Alison.
``The proper course is for these allegations to be investigated by the police or the church in the ordinary way,'' he said.
In a statement it was pointed out that Cardinal Pell was not responsible for the Parramatta diocese.
``As Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Pell has no jurisdiction over other dioceses or priests belonging to them,'' it said.
His three victims have all called for his position to be reviewed and want a thorough internal investigation into his conduct carried out.
``I was so angry that this man who had abused his power over me and had such a huge impact on my life, an immediate impact, had been put in a position of power again over young people,'' one of his female victims, Jenny, told The Sunday Mail.
``There should have been bells ringing everywhere.
``I cannot imagine how a person who has questions about their integrity can be put into such a position''.
The man was aged 20 when he sought counselling from Father Fleming over his sexuality.
Archbishop Faulkner had several meetings with the man in 1995, during which he was told of the relationship that spanned six years with Father Fleming.
The man's police statement reveals Father Fleming contacted him in an agitated state after he was first spoken to church officials.
``I believe the Catholic Church must have been in contact with him because he rang me distressed about it and asked me to tell the Archbishop that there was no penetration,'' he told police.
``For some reason it appeared really important to John that I advised the Archbishop that we did not have intercourse.
``I did tell the Archbishop the exact relationship I had with John which involved no penetration, but I didn't think it mitigated anything.
``I recall the Archbishop asking me whether he should ordain John. I told him that it wasn't up to me to make that decision''.
The man, who asked to be known only as Michael, told the Sunday Mail he was surprised that Father Fleming was ordained several months later.
When The Sunday Mail contacted his lawyer Michael Sykes on Friday and asked if Father Fleming was denying the allegations, would not directly respond to the question.
``This is not the appropriate forum for him to come out with any response to the allegations,'' Mr Sykes said.
``The appropriate forum is the courts or the eclesiastical discliplinary tribunal mechanism.
``That is the formal answer to your inquiry''.
Late Friday Cardinal Pell's office provided The Sunday Mail with a written response to a series of questions posed to it on Thursday. The statement did not answer any of the questions.
``When allegations are received about priests in other dioceses, complainants are encouraged to go to the police or the Professional Standards Office in the relevant state.
``A copy of the complaint is also provided to the appropriate Professional Standards Office to follow up.
``Responsibility for the selection and appointment of staff at Campion College is a matter for the college, which is a private institution, not an official church agency, and outside the Sydney archdiocese''.
The chairman of Campion College, Mr John de Bruyn, on Friday refused to comment.
It is unknown if Campion was aware of any of the allegations surrounding Father Fleming at the time he was appointed president.
While Father Fleming is its president, he answers to a board of trustees, headed by Mr de Bruyn. One of the trustees is Dr Michael Casey, Cardinal Pell's private secretary.
His three victims have all called for his position to be reviewed and want a thorough internal investigation into his conduct carried out.
``I was so angry that this man who had abused his power over me and had such a huge impact on my life, an immediate impact, had been put in a position of power again over young people,'' one of his female victims, Jenny, told The Sunday Mail.
``There should have been bells ringing everywhere.
``I cannot imagine how a person who has questions about their integrity can be put into such a position''.
The man was aged 20 when he sought counselling from Father Fleming over his sexuality.
Archbishop Faulkner had several meetings with the man in 1995, during which he was told of the relationship that spanned six years with Father Fleming.
The man's police statement reveals Father Fleming contacted him in an agitated state after he was first spoken to church officials.
``I believe the Catholic Church must have been in contact with him because he rang me distressed about it and asked me to tell the Archbishop that there was no penetration,'' he told police.
``For some reason it appeared really important to John that I advised the Archbishop that we did not have intercourse.
``I did tell the Archbishop the exact relationship I had with John which involved no penetration, but I didn't think it mitigated anything.
``I recall the Archbishop asking me whether he should ordain John. I told him that it wasn't up to me to make that decision''.
The man, who asked to be known only as Michael, told the Sunday Mail he was surprised that Father Fleming was ordained several months later.
When The Sunday Mail contacted his lawyer Michael Sykes on Friday and asked if Father Fleming was denying the allegations, would not directly respond to the question.
``This is not the appropriate forum for him to come out with any response to the allegations,'' Mr Sykes said.
``The appropriate forum is the courts or the eclesiastical discliplinary tribunal mechanism.
``That is the formal answer to your inquiry''.
Late Friday Cardinal Pell's office provided The Sunday Mail with a written response to a series of questions posed to it on Thursday. The statement did not answer any of the questions.
``When allegations are received about priests in other dioceses, complainants are encouraged to go to the police or the Professional Standards Office in the relevant state.
``A copy of the complaint is also provided to the appropriate Professional Standards Office to follow up.
``Responsibility for the selection and appointment of staff at Campion College is a matter for the college, which is a private institution, not an official church agency, and outside the Sydney archdiocese''.
The chairman of Campion College, Mr John de Bruyn, on Friday refused to comment.
It is unknown if Campion was aware of any of the allegations surrounding Father Fleming at the time he was appointed president.
While Father Fleming is its president, he answers to a board of trustees, headed by Mr de Bruyn. One of the trustees is Dr Michael Casey, Cardinal Pell's private secretary.
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