Archbishop should be sacked for covering sex abuse

Australian PM says pope must sack archbishop for concealing child sex abuse

by Reuters 19-07-2018 | 3:03 PM
Reuters - Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Thursday (July 19) that Pope Francis must sack an Australian archbishop convicted of concealing child sex abuse. Archbishop Philip Wilson, 67, in May became the most senior Catholic cleric to be convicted of not disclosing to police abuse by another priest. Wilson was sentenced to a year's detention earlier this month. He has stepped aside as archbishop of Adelaide in South Australia state but has not resigned, insisting he would do so only if he is unsuccessful in an appeal. Turnbull, who has previously called on Wilson to resign, escalated his criticism of Wilson remaining in office. Wilson, who was earlier this year diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease, is due to face court again on August 11 for a ruling on whether he will be imprisoned or allowed to serve his sentence in home detention.