Clergy Sexual Offender List
Q-Z
Please ensure you have read the
introduction on the entry page to the perpetrator lists - it covers vital
information about--
1) the way offenders move between cities, countries and denominations, and often
even use variations of their name to avoid being tracked.
2) the difference between licences (or faculties) being revoked and offenders
being defrocked
3) the different sections of this list
3) the link to the Australian Press Council adjudication confirming the public
interest in publication of offenders' names
4) the limiting of the list to sexual abuse and clergy only
5) the number of offenders listed
CONVICTED CLERGY, OR WHERE OFFENCES OTHERWISE CONFIRMED
Rapson, David
Edward (37) RCC priest and Salesian Brother - 1992 Pleaded guilty
to 5 counts of indecent assault against 15yo boy. Sentenced to 2
years jail. Originally faced 10 counts. At the time of his trial,
Rapson was no longer teaching but was still supported by the
Salesian Order.
Redfern, Graham, RCC priest - 2002 Report
reveals AUS Catholic Church paid sex abuse victim $15,000
compensation after Church Commission into Sexual Abuse finds
priest sexually abused youth, aged 18, in 1976 just weeks after
giving last rites to victim's mother. Police statements allege
Redfern took youth to motels and on country trips, where sexual
abuse occurred. Despite commission's finding, church found it
would "not be in public interest" to sack Redfern.
Report reveals that, after victim lodged statements with VIC
police in 1995, Redfern went on "sabbatical" from
Seymour parish where he had served since early 1990s and in 1996
reappeared at St Thomas More Church, Mt Eliza, where he served as
assistant priest until 2001.
Ridings, Christopher (1939-2021) UCA minister - 1991 Convicted of 3 counts
of indecent assault on a child 10-12 years old, during 1989-90. He was sentenced
to a 3 year good behaviour bond. In 1994 the church examined the
conviction and instructed Ridings to avoid working with children, but retained
his status as a minister in good standing.
Ridsdale, Gerald aka Fozzie
Bear (b.1934) RCC priest - 1993 Pleaded guilty to 30
counts against 8 boys. Jailed for 15 months. Released after 3
months. Publicity resulted in 151 new charges being laid in 1994.
In total, pleaded guilty to 46 counts involving 21 children, although charged with 180
counts. Jailed for 18 years, with a minimum of 15 years. Appeal
dismissed. Previously convicted for offences against 8 victims
and sentenced to jail 27 years earlier (1966). One of his
victims later needed an operation to repair damage resulting from
constant anal rape. Ridsdale was known to carry a jar of Vaseline
in his car. When children refused to go with him on a pretext, he
would ask their parents who would then instruct their children to
assist the priest. Complaints date from the time of his
ordination in 1961, through nine parishes to 1982. Detectives
stated the Church moved Ridsdale to a new parish whenever there
was a complaint. Ridsdale claimed himself molested as child by
Christian Brother. He was dismissed by the Pope in November 1993.
Note: In 1972 Ridsdale shared the presbytery (the clergy house)
with (now Archbishop) George Pell. Pell declares he knew nothing
of Ridsdale's activities in spite of the fact that Ridsdale's
activities were common knowledge both among the church hierarchy
and local parishes and many of Ridsdale's victims were abused in
the presbytery.2006 Appeared in court via video link from jail on a further 68 counts of indecent
assault and 12 of buggery against 10 boys, the youngest of whom was 6yo. Pleaded
guilty to 35 charges (24 counts of indecent assault, seven of
gross indecency and four of buggery) involving 10 boys. Sentenced to a maximum of 13 years'
imprisonment, with a minimum parole period of seven years.
The minimum extra time Ridsdale will serve is 4 years.
Riley, Greg Francis, Christian Brother - 1999 Pleaded
guilty to 17 counts of indecent assault. Offences occurred late
1970s and early 1980s. Sentenced to 3 years jail. Note: The case
resulted from information the victims gave to Justice Wood's
inquiry into corruption in NSW.
Robinson, Barry; RCC priest - Admitted abusing a 16yo boy while on
transfer in Boston USA. Criminal investigation was abandoned in 1994 when
Robinson returned to Melbourne. Following treatment and supervision,
Robinson was appointed an assistant parish priest (restricted ministry) in 1997
by Archbishop George Pell. According to a church official in Australia,
Robinson had also admitted to engaging in sexual misconduct (not with juveniles)
while a priest in Chile between 1979-85. Following the publication of his
history, the Melbourne Archdiocese initially declared they saw no reason to
remove Robinson from parish work, but public outcry forced Robinson's removal a
short time later.
Robinson, Brian James (74) Christian Brother -
1999 Committed for trial in Brisbane Magistrates Court on 4 sex
charges, including 2 counts of carnal knowledge and 2 of
permitting carnal knowledge, against children, aged under 16,
from 1969 in QLD.
Robinson, Stephen Joseph (51) St Gerard Brother
- Convicted 1998 for acts of indecency against 2 novices 1979-81.
Sentenced to 18 months jail.
Rosenow, William "Hallelujah Bill"
(70) Salvation Army member - 1994 Dies after being charged with
indecently assaulting female employee, aged 24, at his home in
Victoria. Rosenow described as "prominent Ballarat
businessman" and "sanctimonious Christian".
Rubeo, Victor (63) RCC priest - 1996 Pleaded
guilty to indecent assault on two boys in his parish. Sentenced
to a 12 month good behaviour bond. In August 1996, while waiting
to appear in court, Rubeo resigned his parish and retired from
ministry. He became eligible to his retirement benefits in 1998.
Ryan, Gerard Vincent (58) RCC priest - Hunter
Valley: Pleaded guilty 1996 to 30 charges including
indecent assault and sexual penetration. Sentenced to 6 years
jail with 2 years non-parole. Appeal dismissed. Convicted 1997
for 53 further offences against boys under 14. Sentenced to 16
years jail to commence May 2000 at end of previous sentence. A
complaint against Ryan in the mid-70s resulted in him being sent
to a retreat in Melbourne, where he attended one counselling
session before returning to parish work. In August 1996 Bishop
Malone, of the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese, urged other victims to
come forward, but said "Vince Ryan is still a priest and
until such time as he wants to leave the priesthood and return to
the lay community - that is become a human again - that would be
his decision". 27/2/03 Ryan's
sentence reduced by 4 years on appeal, due to "his otherwise
good character, and the stress and stigma he had endured from his
convictions", plus the fact that he
disclosed offences unknown to police. The diocese has guaranteed
Ryan will be disqualified from pastoral duties on release and
placed in the RCC's in-house sex offender supervision programme, Encompass.
Ryan, Paul David Carl (58) RCC priest - 2006 Pleaded guilty to 5 counts of
indecent assault of two boys in 1991. Another victim committed suicide
before trial. The first complaint known to have been made to thee church
about Ryan was the week after he was ordained in 1976. Ryan
also spent "spiritual formation" time in the US on 7 occasions, and more victims
have surfaced there, some of whom have been paid settlements by the Ballarat
Diocese. Ryan was sentenced to 18 months jail, eligible for parole after 12
months.
Sampson, Lloyd Luciano (47) New Apostolic Church
minister - Perth 2000. Charged with 15 counts of sexual
penetration and indecent assault on 3 girls (sisters). The
offences came to the attention of police after the youngest girl
finally complained to her older sisters because he was hurting
her so much and she wanted to kill herself. Doctors found
internal injuries. The girls' 3-year-old brother also showed
similar evidence of bleeding from the lower bowel which suggested
he had also been molested but because he was too young to give a
statement or to testify police laid no charges. Three juries
convicted Sampson on five charges of sexual penetration and three
of indecent dealing against the two younger girls, and against
the three as a group. A fourth jury cleared him of any wrong
doing against the eldest girl. Sampson (married with 2 children)
was dismissed as minister after charges laid. Sentenced to 10
years jail, eligible for parole after 4 years.
Sapsford, Alan (66) Anglican priest - 2002 Charged with multiple
counts of
gross
indecency, indecent assault and committing an indecent act with a child against multiple victims while parish priest in Seymour, Victoria
(where he worked from 1966-96). One of his victims later became a priest
himself, and disclosed the abuse to the local bishop in 1996. The bishop
obtained a signed admission from Sapsford. However, although the bishop
wanted to withdraw Sapsford's licence, intervention by the then-Archbishop of
Melbourne ensured Sapsford retired "on the grounds of ill-health".
Archbishop Raynor then licensed Sapsford to work in one parish in Melbourne, but
Sapsford used the licence to work all over Australia. In 2002, a group of
parishioners at Seymour demanded a church inquiry, but before it could be
resolved the matter became a police investigation and the church withdrew.
Questions about one of the detectives handling the case, who was a friend of
Sapsford, led to the Victorian Police Ethical Standards Division investigating.
Sapsford was due to stand trial in June 2003, but died in March.
Sargent, Haydn Gerald (62) Church of
Christ minister in Sydney, and Brisbane talkback radio host - 1998 Charged
with 12 child sex offences, including 2 counts of committing
unlawful sexual intercourse and 10 of indecent assault, against
boy, aged under 16, between 1959 and 1960 in Sydney. Charges
dropped in 1999 on grounds victim too disturbed to testify.
Schmitt, Raymond George, Christian missionary -
1998 Convicted of indecent dealing with 14yo boy in his care.
Sentenced to 3½ years jail.
Searson, Peter (74) RCC priest and primary
school teacher - 1997 Receives 6 month good behaviour bond in
Dandenong Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to charges of
physically assaulting altar boy, aged 12, between 1984 and 1997
while priest at Doveton, VIC. On one occasion, Searson struck boy
because he giggled during mass. Also in 1997, Searson was removed
from his parish after 50 people complained about him taking
children out of school for one-on-one sex education classes.
Sharwood, Robert Francis, (58) Anglican priest and
school chaplain - 2002 Sacked as chaplain of Brisbane's exclusive Churchie Anglican Grammar school after allegations surface that
he repeatedly molested young male between 1974 and 1976 in
Brisbane's west. The victim was a 13yo organist at the church at which Sharwood was
assistant curate. In 1976 the victim's father intercepted a letter from Sharwood to the victim which clearly indicated a sexual relationship. He complained to the church,
whose bishop pronounced "absolute forgiveness and restoration to the church" on Sharwood. Police
were contacted in January 2002 after victim
learns Sharwood was still working with children. 2006 Convicted on four counts: one
each of carnal knowledge and permitting carnal knowledge, and two of indecent
assault. Sharwood had already pleaded guilty to another 7 charges relating
to the same victim. Sharwood was sentenced to two years 9 months jail, suspended
after one year.
Shea, John Rowan (Jack) (73) ex-trainee priest -
1996 Pleaded guilty to 2 charges of attempted penetration
and indecent assault on 2 boys under 16 between 1969-78. At a
separate trial in Dec 1995 convicted on 10 counts of
indecent assault and attempted buggery. Sentenced to 3 years jail
with a minimum of 12 months. Appeal dismissed. Shea had traded on
his connections with bishops and priests and claimed he was
looking for boys to become priests.
Shearman, Donald (76) Anglican bishop and OBE
recipient - 2002 Shearman publicly admits truth of allegations of
his 2 year long abuse of a 14yo girl in mid-1950s at church-run
boarding home. He refused to apologise. The victim had gone to
Archbishop Hollingworth in 1995, and Shearman had admitted the
allegations then. Hollingworth had not taken any action. In 1993,
another victim allegedly went to Hollingworth with abuse claims
against Shearman but apparently was discouraged from going to
police. Shearman's priest's license was revoked only after
Hollingworth took leave from the archbishopric to become Governor
General in 2001. After internal church court hearings, Shearman was defrocked in
2004.
Simpson, Terence Anthony (58) Christian Brother
- 1998 Pleaded guilty to 6 counts of indecent dealing with two
boys aged 8 & 9 in 1962 at St Joseph's College in Qld. Sentenced to 2 years jail, suspended. 2004 Pleaded guilty to 7
charges of indecent treatment against 3 former students aged 9 and 10 at Gregory
Terrace school in the 1960s. Given 18 month suspended sentence. No longer a
member of the order.
Slattery, Michael (61) RCC priest - 2007 Pleaded guilty to three acts of indecency -- two committed on the
victim when she was aged 14 and one when she was aged 15. Judge Woods sentenced
Slattery to three terms of 18 months jail, to be served concurrently, suspended,
with an eighteen month good behaviour bond.
Smith, Charles Alan (65) Salvation Army major -
1997 Pleaded guilty to 39 charges including gross indecency and
indecent assault on 9 boys during the 1960s and 70s, having already previously pleaded
guilty to 76 other charges relating to offences in Perth from 1958-77.
There were a total of 29 victims involved in all those 115 charges, aged
from 10yo to 17yo. Sentenced to 15 years jail. 2005 Released from jail after
serving less than 8 years. Relocated to Victoria to complete his parole,
but the Victorian Govt has refused to state how he is being monitored. NB. During 2004-05 a rumour was
circulating that his convictions were for offences in NZ prior to coming to
Australia; however, any offences committed in NZ would be tried there, not here.
Smith, Regis, Melbourne Franciscan brother and
Catholic priest - 2000 Catholic Church agrees to pay sex abuse
victim $200,000 compensation after Church Commission into Sexual
Abuse accepts as "substantially correct" victim's
allegations against 3 priests, including Br Godfrey AINSWORTH, Fr
Francis ELLUL and Br Regis Smith. Commission hears Smith, of
Waverley, Sydney, in 1982 indecently assaulted female victim,
aged 34, over 3 hour period at St Kilda. Commission told priest
was former footballer whose strength was "enormous".
Souter, Robert Leslie (46) Jehovah's
Witness - August 2000 Pleaded guilty to one count of buggery and
four counts of indecent assault on two teenage boys from 1978-80.
Sentenced to five years jail with three years non-parole. Had
admitted the offences to church elders, who disfellowshipped him
five years later, but did nothing more. Judge commented extremely
unfavourably on church's lack of action, and reduced the sentence
because Souter was himself a child abuse victim.
Spratt, Peter Richard (59) Marist Brother -
Pleaded guilty 1996 to indecent assault on 14yo boy in 1979.
Spratt left the order in the early 1980s. His co-operation with
the police investigation earned him a reduced sentence. Sentenced
to 2 year good behaviour bond and fined $2000. Request for name
suppression denied.
Sullivan, Desmond, 57 (VIC, 1998). Melbourne
Marist Brother and Catholic secondary school teacher. Admits to
breaking celibacy vow after confessing to fathering son to woman,
aged 23, in 1989 whom he met in 1984 while teacher at Catholic
secondary college in country VIC. Church inquiry hears Sullivan
maintained sexual relationship with girl over 5 year period but
abandoned her soon after son born. In 1998, victim went to media
after Marist Brothers order refused to cover half costs of
child's upbringing.
Sutton, Gregory Joseph aka AB
(45) Marist Brother - 1996 Pleaded guilty to 67 charges of sexual
penetration and indecent assault on 11 boys and 4 girls under
11yo between 1976 and 1987 at Mosman, Eastwood and Lismore.
Sutton fled after investigations commenced and was arrested in US
while principal of St Louis Catholic school. Sentenced to 18
years jail.
Sweeney, John Gerard Patrick (59) St Gerard
Majella brother - Pleaded guilty 1993 to indecent assault
on 18yo naval apprentice, and received good behaviour bond.
Convicted 1997 of three counts of indecent assault and
jailed for 18 months. Pleaded guilty in 1998 to act of
indecency. Originally faced 21 charges including penetration and
indecent assault. Lost Order of Australia Medal over offences.
Swiatkowski, Tadeusz (42) RCC - 1998 Pleaded
guilty to soliciting for prostitution. Fined $250. Counsel for
Swiatkowski pleaded for leniency on the basis of already endured
public humiliation. Swiatkowski , although living in Newcastle
NSW, was convicted in Brisbane. (Tadeusz = Polish; Edward)
Swingler, Alan Edward (53) ex-trainee Marist
Brother - 1996 Pleaded guilty to 10 counts of gross indecency and
indecent assault and found guilty on a further four counts of
gross indecency, indecent assault and buggery. Swingler left the
order before completing his training, but then taught religion.
The mother of one victim said even after the family complained to
the school, Swingler was retained on staff. Sentenced to 7 years
jail with five years non-parole.
Tasker, Donald Gilbert (61) teacher and
ex-trainee Presbyterian minister - 1992 Pleaded guilty to two
counts of indecent assault. Found guilty on a further 27 charges
of indecent assault, attempted indecent assault, aggravated gross
indecency, sexual penetration with aggravating circumstances on
a child over 10 and a child under 10. Sentenced to 6 years jail
with a minimum 4 years. Appeal resulted in retrial of all charges
to which Tasker had pleaded not guilty, and he was subsequently
found guilty of two counts of indecent assault and one of
attempted indecent assault, and acquitted on a further 13
charges. Sentenced to 6 month jail term suspended for two years.
Taylor, Albert Matthew aka
Brother George (83) de la Salle brother - Pleaded guilty 1996 to
2 counts indecent assault against 11yo student at de la Salle
College, Revesby. Sentenced to 3 year good behaviour bond,
following a doctor's report that Taylor's condition would
"very rapidly deteriorate" if he was sent to prison.
Taylor, Colgan, (80) Marist Brother NSW –
2002 Pleaded guilty to molesting two young girls, one of them
intellectually disabled. The
disabled girl was between 8 and 11yo at the time of the offences
(which spanned a 3year period) and the other girl was 5yo. Taylor
was jailed for 18 months suspended after 4
months. The judge said that the former brother had shown genuine
remorse and was extremely unlikely to re-offend. Taylor had been a Marist school
headmaster until his 50s, then transferring into pastoral care
work. Though living in a home for retired brothers in Sydney at
the time of conviction, he was charged and convicted in Brisbane
District court since the offences occurred in the Gladstone area.
Toomey, Peter John (56) Christian Brother - 2005 Pleaded guilty to 10
counts of indecent assault against 10 children aged 11-12 in the 1970s.
Sentenced to 2¼ years jail, 6 months custodial and the
remainder suspended for three years.
Treacy, John Leslie (57) RCC priest - Pleaded
guilty 1993 to indecent assault of 16 yo boy. Treacy told boy
"good friends do this" after molesting him during
weekend beach trip. Placed on $750/12 month good behaviour bond,
no conviction recorded. Subsequently returned to parish work in
Dalby, Qld, then 2000-2002 leading Sunday Mass and Holy Communion
for patients aged 13 and over at Princess Alexandra Hospital,
Brisbane.
Van Klooster, Adrian Richard Peter John (59) RCC priest - 2002
Appears in Bunbury Magistrates Court charged with 2 counts of indecently dealing
with 2 children, aged under 13. Also charged with 12 counts of
indecently dealing with a child under 13, four of indecently
recording a child under 13 and one of possessing child
pornography. The pornography was stored on his computer under the heading
"Parish Business". In evidence tendered to the court, van Klooster
also admitted abusing another girl in the late 1960s or early 1970s. January
2003 Pleaded guilty, sentenced to 31 years jail reduced to
8 years. Though 5 victims were involved in the court case, some of the
pornography related to other children, and thus van Klooster's sentence for that
offence was separate and cumulative rather than concurrent. Van
Klooster had originally worked in the Wollongong diocese, but had been
transferred to WA twice, once in the 1970s, returning to NSW in the early 80s,
and once in 1994.
Veness, Alan aka Geoffrey (62)
Marist Brother - 2000 Charged with 3 counts of indecently dealing
with 15yo student in 1994.
Waters, Peter RCC - 1999 RCC Commission into
Sexual Abuse found Waters had abused Michael Santamaria, a member
of one of Australia's prominent Catholic families. Santamaria
reported having spoken with another of Waters' victims, and is
believed to be one of four victims who complained to the
Commission. Waters was put on "administrative leave",
but refused to co-operate with the internal investigation.
Weston, Keith William, (81) RCC Christian Brother - 2004 Charged with
sexual assault on four boys aged 12 to 14 between 1964 and 1972. At
the time of the offences, Weston was principal of St Joseph's Junior College,
Pascoe Vale. On three occasions Weston told boys to go to his office and
remove their clothes before masturbating them. The fourth assault took place in
similar circumstances through the boy's clothes. Weston claimed to be
suffering from poor health, including dementia, prostate cancer and depression
and had sought medical certification of his unfitness to plead, but when that
failed he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 2½
year jail term, fully suspended for 2 years. A fifth victim said
he reported his allegations to
police in 1997, but the charges were permanently stayed after two investigators
resigned from the force during the case.
Whelan, Barry (67) Catholic priest - 2002 Whelan
"retired" after a woman publicly alleged a relationship with Whelan.
Subsequent investigation by journalists uncovered at least 5 victims, all of
whom had complained to successive Melbourne archbishops (Frank Little, George
Pell and Denis Hart), and 3 of whom had received settlements from the diocese.
One was only 13yo, and one had a child by Whelan. Whelan initially denied
any relationship with the woman, but recanted after DNA testing proved
paternity. Pell had, in fact, removed Whelan from priestly duties, but
Whelan appealed to the Vatican and Pell was over-ruled.
Wiggins, Leslie James (63) Anglican - 1991
Convicted of indecent assault of 3 boys 11 and 12 yo in 1989-90.
3 months sentence suspended for 12 months. Wiggins had been
commended by an archbishop and received an award from the
Anglican Boys Society for his work with children.
Williams, Jim, AoG pastor - 2003 Brian Houston, senior pastor at Hillsong
Church, assented to (but defended) the fact that Jim Williams, currently serving
as an AoG pastor in Brisbane, previously AoG New Zealand general
superintendent, had had his ministry licence permanently revoked
in New Zealand because of sexual misconduct.
Wright, Leo Daniel (57) RCC priest - Pleaded
guilty 1995 to 17 counts of gross indecency, indecent
assault and indecent dealing of 3 girls (2 under 12yo), a 14yo
boy and an 18yo woman. Sentenced to 3 years jail. After
sentencing, the Catholic diocesan chancellor (legal advisor), the
Rev Jim Spence, said Wright would always be a priest; the
church's concern was what his mission would be when he got out of
jail. One victim complained to the church in 1990 and requested
that Wright be removed from parish work. The Church agreed, but
Wright was still ministering in 1993, and when the woman
complained again, Wright was sent to St Luke's Institute, a
treatment facility in the US. Wright was still listed as a priest
in the 1995 Australian Catholic Directory. In 1997 Wright
pleaded guilty to 8 counts. Sentenced to additional 18 months,
suspended after 6 months. Last heard 2002 working as
"companion" for clients including sex abuse victims and
drug addicts at Bethel Cummunity Centre, Gold Coast, run by QLD
Sisters of St Joseph's.
Yancey, Jack Karl (60) Church of Christ
charismatic church minister - 1993 Pleaded guilty in Brisbane
Magistrates Court to 11 postal harassment charges. Yancey sent
his (female television personality) victims sexually explicit
letters accompanied by photographs from pornographic magazines
depicting group heterosexual sex, group lesbian sex, pregnant
women and oral sex. Received suspended 6 month jail sentence.
Yang, Myong duk, Uniting Church minister -
Church investigation in 2000 substantiated allegations of sexual
misconduct with an adult parishioner. Myong duk Yang admitted the
offence, and church action included a period of being stood down
from ministry and a twelve month period of supervision.
ST GEORGE'S, Rockhampton Anglican children's home - 2001 Seven former residents file actions in QLD Supreme Court alleging they were subjected to atrocities in 1970s described as among worst committed against children in QLD. Litigants claim Anglican priest attached live electrical wires to children's genitals and inserted wire implements in their rectums. Priest also allegedly beat children using cricket bats and flushed their heads in faeces-filled toilets.
Credits: In 2000, the Eros Foundation in Australia published a book entitled "Hypocrites" focussing on the high incidence of sexual crime in the church. Information from this source has been helpful in compiling the following list. "Hypocrites" can be read online in the archives of the National Library (PDF files, including illustrations) or as a text-only document on this site by clicking on this link. Further details were obtained from "The Australian Paedophile and Sex Offender Index" by Deborah Coddington. Data was also sourced from http://www.crimenet.com.au (to whom I express heartfelt appreciation for their co-operation) and http://www.antichrist.com.au/index.html (no longer operational), Broken Rites, news articles and other sources.
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