AN Anglican Church inquiry into allegations of sexual misconduct has been put on hold, outraging alleged victims.
The Professional Standards Office in December refused a request by
Father John Fleming to suspend the inquiry, but has now opted not to
proceed until after Supreme Court action he has launched against the Sunday Mail is finalised.
Father
Fleming launched the defamation action complaining a series of articles
alleged he had unlawful sexual intercourse or, alternatively, that he
was reasonably suspected of doing so.
He also complained the
articles were "a material cause" in the termination of his employment as
president of Campion College in Sydney in April, 2009.
The
stories sparked an investigation by the Adelaide diocese of the Catholic
Church into its handling of the allegations after they were reported,
which subsequently found there were shortcomings in its processes, and
the inquiry by the Anglican Professional Standards Office.
The Anglican investigation entered its final stages late last year
when the Professional Standards Committee received a report from an
investigator appointed to examine the allegations against Father
Fleming.
Documents obtained by the Sunday Mail reveal the
committee determined that "in relation to all three complaints, further
action was called for" and it appointed a solicitor to prepare a
"complaint document" detailing the allegations.
Under the process,
Father Fleming was given 21 days to respond. At a meeting on February
15, the committee considered his response, in which he denied the
allegations.
He also disputed the committee's jurisdiction to
investigate the allegations.
The committee determined the
allegations would need "to be proven" before the Professional Standards
Board.
However, the committee determined that it would not refer the
complaints to the board for examination until after the Supreme Court
action was concluded.
The complainants have been told that the
decision was made following legal advice and because the committee was
also "mindful that if the matter was referred to the board at this
stage, the board may make a determination at odds with findings made in
the court proceedings, which would be an unsatisfactory outcome".
"In
December, the committee was showing courage and leadership, but that
has now vanished. I don't know what they are scared of; all I know is
they let us down again," complainant Jenny said.
"What's new? No one wants to take accountability."