Don't blame me

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Aug 15, 2006

Gerard Ridsdale, a defrocked priest of Australia's Ballarat diocese, has been sentenced to 4 years in jail for molesting 10 boys. Ridsdale was already serving an 18-year sentence, having previously been convicted on 46 other sex-abuse charges. Sentencing Judge Bill White was understandably critical of the Ballarat diocese for allowing the predator-priest to thrive during the 1970s and 1980s. The current head of the diocese understands that criticism, but he has something important to add.

"I came to the diocese nine years ago, so therefore everything that happened with Ridsdale happened before I was here," Bishop Peter Connors said.