Priest accused of covering up abuse is terminally ill

A court has been told a retired NSW Catholic priest charged with covering up sex abuse is terminally ill, reports the ABC.

Last Tuesday was to be his first appearance in court after being charged with covering up buggery and indecent assault offences by a defrocked Hunter Valley priest in the 1970s.

The charges stem from his time as a principal at a Newcastle Catholic high school. He is also charged with assaulting an eight or nine-year-old boy.

The priest's solicitor told Newcastle Local Court that his client was unable to attend because he was in hospital. 

The ABC has been told he is being treated for cancer and the court heard his condition is terminal.

A certificate from a laparoscopic surgeon was handed to the court which stated the priest was an in-patient and was unfit to attend court.

The matter has been adjourned to the end of October.

The retired priest is the first person in Australia to be charged with failing to report sexual abuse by another priest.