An Australian archbishop has been sentenced to one year detention for concealing historical sexual abuse, becoming the highest-ranking Catholic clergyman to face confinement for a cover-up.
Archbishop Philip Wilson, who has stepped aside but not resigned from his position in the Catholic Church, was sentenced to 12 months detention on Tuesday.
A court had found him guilty of covering up the sexual abuse of children by paedophile priest Jim Fletcher in May, which he allegedly knew about as early as the 1970s.
Wilson will be eligible for parole after six months, and his sister’s home will be assessed as a possible location for home detention before a final location is confirmed by the court on August 14th.
Australian law allows the possibility of home detention for offenders sentenced to fewer than 18 months imprisonment, with the location determined by a court assessment after sentencing.
Magistrate Robert Stone told the court “there is no remorse or contrition showed by the offender. I am of the opinion the sentence should not be suspended. “On that basis, the only available remaining option is full-time imprisonment or home detention.”
He said the only logical reason for Wilson’s conduct was protecting the Catholic Church. “There are no other rational explanations for the offender’s conduct.”
Despite calls for his resignation, the church has not commented, thus far, on the future of Wilson’s position in the institution.
Source: Aljazeera
