Catholic Church found liable for historical sexual abuse by Newcastle priest

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Posted on 10/03/2024 8:54:44 PM PDT by ConservativeMind

A dying man has been awarded more than $500,000 in damages in a landmark case involving the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle was found to be directly and vicariously liable for the man's abuse at the hands of a priest who taught scripture 55 years ago.

The man, who for legal reasons can only be referred to as AA, alleged he was abused by Father Ron Pickin at Wallsend High School in the Hunter Valley.

Father Pickin died in 2015.

In a judgement published this week, Acting Supreme Court Justice Monika Schmidt said AA left school in year 10 and "had a difficult life afterwards".

The court heard he was "unable to tell anyone about the abuse, not trusting anyone despite thoughts of the abuse and resulting anxiety having troubled him his whole life".

AA sought damages and was represented by the Sydney law firm Koffels.

“AA is a landmark case in New South Wales, as the first judgement where the courts have found a diocese both negligent and vicariously liable for sexual abuse committed by a Catholic priest," managing counsel Aaron Koffel said.

The court was told Father Pickin attended the high school to provide religious scripture classes.

AA's legal team argued it was a case of vicarious liability and that the diocese should be held legally responsible for Father Pickin's alleged acts because he was employed by it.

'Access to children'

The diocese denied vicarious liability for the alleged abuse, which it said did not take place, and argued about what constituted employment.

It argued Father Pickin was not an employee and that "it had not placed him in a position akin to employment, or in any position of power, control or authority over AA".

(Excerpt) Read more at abc.net.au ...

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To: ConservativeMind

2 posted on 10/03/2024 9:03:54 PM PDT by ebb tide ("The Spirit of Vatican II" is nothing more than a wicked "ideology" of the modernists.)

To: ebb tide

3 posted on 10/03/2024 9:20:29 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)

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