Former Archbishop of Adelaide Philip Wilson left an Australian court on Tuesday (14 August) to begin 12 months’ home detention, with a six-month non-parole period, as a supporter of the prelate and a prominent abuse survivor had a bitter verbal exchange after the hearing.
Wilson, 67, received approval from Newcastle Local Court Magistrate Robert Stone to serve his sentence at the Archbishop’s sister’s home on the New South Wales Central Coast, north of Sydney. He has been on bail while he and his sister’s home were assessed and he will be eligible for parole on 13 February 2019.
The former President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference -- whose 20 July resignation as leader of Adelaide’s Catholics was accepted by the Pope 10 days later after weeks of pressure, including from episcopal colleagues and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull – was convicted of concealing child sexual abuse by the late Fr James Fletcher in the Maitland-Newcastle diocese, where both were serving as priests in the mid-1970s. The charge of concealment related to the period between 2004, when Fletcher was charged, and 2006, when he died in prison – by which time Archbishop Wilson was Archbishop of Adelaide.
Wilson, who shortly before his trial was due to begin last November revealed he had been given a “working diagnosis” of Alzheimer’s disease, was found guilty on 22 May and stood aside the following day. On 3 June, Pope Francis appointed the leader of South Australia’s only other diocese, Jesuit Bishop Greg O’Kelly of Port Pirie, to the additional role of Apostolic Administrator of Adelaide.
Bishop O’Kelly, who will remain in the post until a new Archbishop takes office, said on Tuesday he was keeping Archbishop Wilson in his prayers, while also remembering the victims and survivors of abuse in the Church.
The former Archbishop's barrister, Mr Ian Temby, QC, said the Archbishop would lodge an appeal against his conviction, but did not apply for bail pending the appeal – clearing the way for Wilson to begin his sentence immediately.
As the former Archbishop left court, a child victim of Fletcher who has become among the most prominent of survivor advocates in Australia, Mr Peter Gogarty, asked Wilson to apologise.
Wilson said nothing but one of his supporters challenged Mr Gogarty as to why he did not come forward 40 years earlier and, when challenged by Mr Gogarty to a debate in front of the TV cameras, moved away and said: "I don't have time for rubbish like you, mate."
Enraged, Mr Gogarty replied: “Excuse me, did you call me rubbish? Did you call me rubbish? Someone abused by your Church?”
As the former Archbishop approached his car, Mr Gogarty said: "Philip, will you say sorry for what you have done to me and other child sex abuse survivors? Philip, please, something… one word of contrition.”
Immediately afterwards, as Wilson was driven away, Mr Gogarty told reporters: “Where is the contrition from former Archbishop Philip Wilson? His Grace, as somebody just said upstairs, has shown no grace.
“This man (Wilson) said two weeks ago that he was resigning because of the hurt to people like me. But I’m still here, still hurting, and he’s now going to lodge an appeal, and we could wait months and months and months for that process to play out.”
Mr Gogarty said he was “beside myself about this”. He also said the Church was a “disgusting corrupt organisation”.
Wilson, who has declared his innocence throughout, stood aside after he was charged in March 2015 but resumed his duties in January the following year – staying in office until his conviction less than three months ago.
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