TWO years ago the Catholic Church dismissed sexual harassment complaints against a priest, one of several men facing child-sex charges over alleged events at a Bathurst school in the 1970s. Father Peter Dwyer, 65, was arrested last Wednesday in Armidale and charged with four child sex assaults dating back to his tenure at St Stanislaus' College.
Dwyer taught music at the school from 1972 and became school president in 1980. Later he served as chief carer for first-year students at the Good Shepherd Seminary, the Sydney Archdiocese's campus for future priests.
A seminarian formerly under Dwyer's care - who asked to be known as "Peter" - said there were a string of complaints lodged against Dwyer for alleged impropriety.
Peter said he decided to raise the issue following recent public debate on the issue because it was indicative of the Catholic Church's inability to handle matters of sexual assault and a culture of harassment.
He said Dwyer's transfer to Armidale coincided with the complaints and there was a belief that it was timed to minimise embarrassment for the church.
"His conduct was under some cloud but he was able to stay there," he said. "What annoys me is that he wasn't a good person, he was completely incompetent, a bully, but his conduct was tolerated by the staff there."
Peter said Dwyer had focused his attention on vulnerable seminarians from Asian backgrounds, who spoke little English.
In one instance, a complaint was lodged after he asked one seminarian for a body massage.
"It was inappropriate," he said. "He would ask one seminarian to give him body massages, which was well known and led to one of the complaints."
A spokeswoman for the Sydney Archdiocese confirmed the issue had been investigated.
"Claims that Father Dwyer had asked adult seminarians to massage his back to relieve pain were fully investigated once they were drawn to the attention of the seminary's authorities," she said.
"There was found to be no improper conduct nor were specific seminarians targeted. Father Dwyer was directed to cease this practice and he complied fully with this direction."
Dwyer has been granted bail and is due to appear in Bathurst Local Court on September 15. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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(Source: SMH)