A prominent South Australian barrister, Mr Michael Abbott QC, is preparing to examine witnesses for an investigation into allegations against Fr John Fleming following a briefing from the Adelaide Archdiocese. "All we can say at this stage is this: Michael Abbott, QC, has had a preliminary briefing with senior Church officials," an Adelaide Archdiocese spokesman told Adelaide Now.
"(He) is examining relevant files and is preparing to interview relevant witnesses."
Anglican Archbishop of Adelaide Jeffrey Driver declined to say whether his organisation had provided information or assistance to the Catholic inquiry, the paper says.Adelaide Now also reports the former wife of the man who is alleged to have had a homosexual affair with Fr Fleming told the Sunday Mail of a meeting she had with Fr Fleming and his wife Alison, in which she was urged to "deny it" and asked who else she had told.
Fr Fleming earlier released a statement denying he had "ever engaged in sexual or inappropriate behaviour with a minor" and rejected the allegations he had been sexually involved with three persons identitied as "Jane", "Jenny" and "Richard".
Jane" told Adelaide Now that Fr Fleming's denial of their sexual liaison had "hit me hard".
"I understand this pain is labelled re-victimisation," she said. "He has stirred up in me again those feelings of worthlessness and desperation. I could have coped with silence, but his denial feels like a threat."
"Jenny" told the paper that she was also upset at Fr Fleming's response, particularly that her allegations were "unsubstantiated".
"The Catholic Church never investigated them, so how could he say they were unsubstantiated?" she said.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce
(Source: CN)