Australian Bishop Philip Wilson’s truth of covering child sex abuse during the 1970s revealed. The most senior Catholic cleric, Archbishop Wilson is under the charge of failing to report child sexual abuse to police.
Following a magistrate-only trial, Magistrate Robert Stone made a judgment in Newcastle local court. And the decision says Wilson will be spending a maximum two years in prison.
Accused clergyman failed to report allegations of child sexual abuse against Father Jim Fletcher, a pedophile priest.
As a defense, the bishop’s team argued that child sexual abuse was not a serious crime during the 1970s and it was not worthy of reporting to the authorities.
Who is Archbishop Wilson in real life? Let’s have a look at his personal life including his age, and family background along with his wiki-like bio.
Who is Philip Wilson?
Senior Catholic official, Archbishop Philip Wilson convicted of the offense and received a verdict handed down by Magistrate Stone.
The clergyman said that he would consider the reason according to a brief statement. He said,
“I am obviously disappointed at the decision published today,”
he also added;
“I will now have to consider the reasons and consult closely with my lawyers to determine the next steps.” Wilson covered up the abuse of four boys including Peter Creigh, a former altar boy by priest James Fletcher.
However, outside the court, abuse survivor Peter Gogarty said about the judgment,
“I think this will now open the doors for other jurisdictions to start looking at trying to prosecute people who deliberately looked after their institution and, literally, threw children to the wolves.”
At that time, Mr. Gogarty said that Wilson knew what Fletcher was up to in 1976. He said,
“Fletcher was already abusing me by then, but Wilson could’ve stopped it, he could’ve got me help.”
On the other hand, the NSW police detective chief inspector, Peter Fox said that the court’s decision made him ‘delighted.’ He was glad to hear the decision because it’s someone within the church.
Previously, the detective alleged the church for covering up Fletcher’s offending. Moreover, Fox said,
“It’s a major turning point. It’s been very difficult for so many of these witnesses; I can’t tell you how difficult it’s been,” “I am confident this will make waves in the Vatican.”
Then alter boy, Peter Creigh was the one who gave evidence at the trial. Diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, Wilson said that he had no memory of a 1976 conversation with Peter Creigh.
Moreover, Wilson hid it to protect church’s reputation.’ Magistrate Stone said that Wilson knew “what he was hearing was a credible allegation and the accused wanted to protect the church and its reputation.”
Philip Wilson Wiki Facts:
Australian bishop, Philip Edward Wilson was born on 2 October 1950, in Cessnock, New South Wales. Currently, his age is 67.
From 2001, Wilson is the eighth Roman Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide. His family consists of seven members including him. He is the son of parents- Joan (mother), and John Wilson (father).
Wilson has four siblings altogether, and he is the eldest one of them. For his primary education, he studied at St Patrick’s Primary School in Cessnock then; he received his secondary education at St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill.
Wilson decided to enter the priesthood by his mid-teens. Furthermore, he achieved a Bachelor of Theology degree in the year 1974 from the Catholic Institute of Sydney.
As many Roman Catholic church blocks married men from becoming a priest. So, we can say that Wilson has not married.
