NSW Police said they “have not received any notification” from the church, about the abuse allegations involving Auxiliary Bishop Richard Umbers, who is second only to Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher.
That’s despite the Sydney Archdiocese on Tuesday last week quietly posting to a relatively obscure part of its website a statement about the allegations, including claiming to have “notified authorities”.
It’s also despite having claimed that “the NSW Police have confirmed there is no investigation at this time”.
The Klaxon revealed the statement on Wednesday last week, on Friday revealing that the church had not notified NSW Police, despite its official claims.
“The NSWPF position remains the same – we have not received any notification,” a NSW Police spokesperson has now told The Klaxon.
Umbers denies the allegations.
The Sydney Archdiocese has repeatedly refused to respond to requests for comment from The Klaxon, and did not respond to a series of written questions yesterday.
Its statement last week, dated July 1, states that Umbers had stood aside and that the allegation was being “investigated”, but does not state the entity or entities investigating.
“In accordance with its obligations, the Archdiocese has notified the relevant authorities of the complaint,” it states.
“The NSW Police has confirmed there is no active investigation at this time”.
Yet on Thursday last week, July 3, NSW Police told The Klaxon: “NSW Police is not aware of this matter”.
Yesterday NSW Police said its “position remains the same” and “we have not received any notification”.
“Without a victim statement or complainant, police can’t investigate,” said a spokesperson.