Deep Thoughts: Bagged another one

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Bagged another one

Another Catholic priest was arrested for sexually assaulting children.

Father David O'Hearn, 47, who was suspended from active ministry in May last year, has been charged with seven child sex offences at Cessnock in 1990 and 1991. The priest had worked in the parish in the rural town for nearly 20 years. The charges against him include five counts of sexually assaulting a child under 16 and two of indecently assaulting a minor under his authority.

When I say “another one”, I mean that O’Hearn is the fourth priest arrested in Hunter Valley. Its beginning to sound like there is something seriously wrong with the Catholic Church down under. It’s almost like a pedophile training program. What else can a priest do in rural Australia?

Hat tip to Rob – Thanks mate!

Technorati tags: Clergy Sexual Abuse, Sexual Offences, Pedophilia, Child Abuse, Catholics

Comments (15)

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elisa · 844 weeks ago

ever heard of innocent till proven guilty??

1 reply · active 844 weeks ago

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Mojoey 107p · 844 weeks ago

Sure - it is a legal concept. It does not stop me from forming an opinion from the facts available. And experience tells me there is a high probability of a conviction.

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mikespeir · 844 weeks ago

I've got to say that things like this don't delight me, although they go far to confirm my suspicions about the supposed transcendent morality of believers. Apparently, a man has ruined his life and the lives of others. That's desperately sad. There might have been a way for him to avoid it, but he chose religion instead.

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Concerned · 843 weeks ago

What the media aren't telling you is that the victim is good a friend of another victim (both of them altar boys) who was abused by Fr. Vincent Ryan who O'Hearn was assistant priest to. Ryan was convicted of his crimes. This victim's friend got a compensation payout from the Ryan matter.

Fr O'Hearn was there for my cousin in his last days and hours and helped the family. My family knows and people who worked with him also know he had strict practices surrounding children (which he was surrounded by).

There is a group called Broken Rites who are acting on any complaint received and assuming they are all true. Police would have absolutely no evidence other than the evidence of the victim(s). Its only when multiple victims interviewed separately describe similarities does the evidence become more believable.

I do not believe that the evidence of this one victim is going to get a conviction.

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Kedd · 840 weeks ago

I have known Father O'Hearn for many years and I will be shocked if he's convicted. In my dealings with him he has shown himself to be a loving, thoughtful and caring person who lives his life to help others.
Logically I see where you're coming from Mojoey ("experience tells me there is a high probability of a conviction") but I hope in this case you're wrong and a mistake has been made.
I'm all for being down on the Catholic church for their history of child sexual assault. But being a Catholic priest doesn't automatically make someone guilty.

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He is innocent · 807 weeks ago

I have known Father O'Hearn for over 20 years, and would be totally shocked if he is convicted. David has been there for the community his entire adult life. When a parishoner is going through the worst time of their life, David would be there beside them.

What a shame that this innocent, decent, selfless man is having his name attached to such a terrible crime, yet his accusers can remain anonymous.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Mojoey 107p · 807 weeks ago

Anonymous to the press. The church knows and suspended him for credible evidence. The police know, his lawyer knows. What shame... the poor bastard.

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anita · 786 weeks ago

if the police know and his lawyer knows then why is it still dragging thru the courts? cause they dont have any real credible evidence. only the accusations of a bloke (and his friends) who got dragged thru the courts himself and lost everything to his exwife and needs to make a quick buck now. the matter keeps getting adjourned which is just ridiculous. they wont find any real evidence. anyone who knows Father O'Hearn would be off their rocker to think hes guilty at all. he is a true man of God who even now asks of his parish to pray for all involved, not just for himself.

1 reply · active 709 weeks ago

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Min · 709 weeks ago

Well Said!!

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Peter Ryan · 781 weeks ago

I to, know Father David O'Hearn extremely well and have only ever found him to be a wonderful Priest, as well as a very caring person.
He has a truly compasionate side and ministers so well to people who unfortunately are entering the final stages of their lives. After many years of personally knowing Father David, I just cannot believe the accustaions can be true. To know the man is to respect him.

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JAG · 774 weeks ago

I have known a priest who was eventually convicted of child sexual abuse and went to Jail. Everyone thought this priest was marvellous, always there to help etc, I thought he was ok too, but it turned out that he sexually abusing my brother. For all of you who are supporting a priest accused of sexually abusing children, keep an open mind - theres agood chance you will be disappointed!!!

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brett · 772 weeks ago

what a load of rubbish this is, i actually was Daves lead server (guild) during these times. it is amazing what people do for money
and further more what you lot have to gossip about

youll be rght dave.

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Min · 709 weeks ago

You don't even have your facts straight here!
I too would be VERY suprised if Fr David is found guilty. Just people jumping on the band wagon if you ask me!!

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AMJ · 652 weeks ago

Fr David is innocent of all charges!! It is so sad for him & his family to see this miscarriage of justice - the biase in the community has sent an innocent man to jail for crimes he did not commit!! Shame on the money chasing complaintants and the legal system. The appeal next year will set this injustice right and overturn these convictions!!

Fr David is a great man.

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BLB · 547 weeks ago

Sorry you are not one of the families he has damaged, money cannot undo what he has done.

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