Fleming ’sickened’ by sexual misconduct allegations
Monday, September 1st, 20081/9/08; http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/31/2351255.htm?section=justin
Father John Fleming, a Catholic priest who is the subject of sexual misconduct allegations, has released a public statement denying any wrongdoing. Father Fleming says he has never been the subject of a police investigation and is shocked and sickened by the allegations of three people in the Sunday press. Father Fleming, who was a well-known Anglican priest in Adelaide before converting to Catholicism, denies ever engaging in sexual or other inappropriate behaviour with a minor. The priest, who is now working at a private Catholic College in Sydney, says he will cooperate with an investigation into the matters and will stand down from his duties as a priest until it is completed. Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell earlier defended his handling of the allegations saying he referred them straight to the church’s internal investigations unit.
