<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Clerical Abuse Tracker Australia]]></title><description><![CDATA[Clerical Abuse Track]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sun, 01 Nov 2026 11:24:37 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.cata.net.au/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Fr Paul Chris Pavlou]]></title><description><![CDATA[Paul Chris Pavlou was a former Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Melbourne who was convicted of child-sex offences in 2009 and later sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment for sexually penetrating a 12-year-old boy. His case raises serious questions about safeguarding procedures, the recruitment and formation of priests, and the handling of complaints against clergy. Early Life and Education Paul Pavlou was born in Australia in 1959 into a family of Greek Cypriot background. He grew up in...]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/fr-paul-chris-pavlou</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ad74ed2049dff2293479699</guid><pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 11:22:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Father Raymond Whitehouse]]></title><description><![CDATA[Complaint by a former altar boy The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne accepted a complaint from a former altar boy, identified as “Stephen”, concerning Father Raymond William Whitehouse, who served at St Peter’s Parish in Bentleigh East, Melbourne, during the mid-1970s. Stephen alleged that Whitehouse sexually assaulted him when he was 11 years old in 1974. According to the complaint, the assaults occurred on several Sundays after late-morning Mass in the sacristy, a room near the altar used...]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/father-raymond-whitehouse</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ad73ee1c7a054c4a4c8d501</guid><pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 10:14:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Father Thomas Carroll]]></title><description><![CDATA[Early Ministry Father Thomas Carroll was a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. During his ministry he served in several Victorian parishes, including: Mansfield Epping Holy Cross Parish, Caulfield South Sexual Abuse of Children The Melbourne Catholic Archdiocese has acknowledged that Father Thomas Carroll sexually abused children during his ministry. The acknowledged abuse included offences against altar boys at Holy Cross Parish, Caulfield South, during the 1950s and 1960s....]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/father-thomas-carroll</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ad5e650ef548029bcd8e4ae</guid><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 09:44:21 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brian Dennis Cairns]]></title><description><![CDATA[Early Career Brian Dennis Cairns was originally a member of the Christian Brothers. During the early 1970s he taught at several Catholic schools in Queensland, including: St Laurence's College, South Brisbane St Columban's College, Albion, Brisbane Around the end of 1974, aged 33, Cairns left the Christian Brothers and became a lay teacher. He subsequently taught at: Iona College, Lindum (until 1977), conducted by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. St John Vianney Primary School, Manly, Brisbane...]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/brian-dennis-cairns</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ad5e5a5ef548029bcd8e378</guid><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 09:41:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brother Francis William Cable — Brother Romuald]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Marist Brother who sexually abused boys and was later employed as a lay teacher For many years, Marist Brother Francis William Cable, also known as Brother Romuald or “Rom” Cable, sexually abused boys in Catholic schools and institutions in New South Wales. The abuse eventually led to criminal convictions involving 24 victims. Cable was sentenced to a maximum of 16 years' imprisonment in 2015, followed by an additional six-year sentence in 2019 after he pleaded guilty to further offences....]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/brother-francis-william-cable-brother-romuald</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ad5e4d9f32c37744f9c779a</guid><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 09:37:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Father Neil Joseph Byrne]]></title><description><![CDATA[Prominent Brisbane priest convicted of child-exploitation offences The Very Reverend Dr Neil Joseph Byrne was a prominent Catholic priest of the Brisbane Archdiocese who spent much of his career in parish ministry and the education and training of Catholic priests. In 2012, Byrne pleaded guilty to making and possessing child-exploitation material. He received a nine-month prison sentence, wholly suspended for two years. At the time of the offending, Byrne held senior positions within the...]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/father-neil-joseph-byrne</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ad5e47b1beeff1a2eca3831</guid><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 09:36:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Father John Byrne SJ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Early Life and Ministry Father John Byrne SJ was born in Gunnedah, New South Wales, on 29 February 1912. After receiving a scholarship to study at a Jesuit school, he entered the Society of Jesus and was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1947. Throughout his priesthood he worked exclusively in Jesuit schools, including: Xavier College, Melbourne (to 1949) St Patrick's College, East Melbourne (1950–1961) St Ignatius' College Riverview, Sydney (1962–1966) Burke Hall, the preparatory school of Xavier...]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/father-john-byrne-sj</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ad5e4101beeff1a2eca3740</guid><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 09:34:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brother Thomas Joseph Butler ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Brother Thomas Joseph Butler (19 May 1929 – 2006), known in the Marist Brothers as Brother Patrick, was a Marist Brother who taught in Catholic schools across New South Wales and Queensland for more than five decades. Former students later alleged that he sexually abused boys during his teaching career. Evidence presented to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found that Marist leadership received complaints about Butler but allowed him to continue teaching...]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/brother-thomas-joseph-butler</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ad5e321ef548029bcd8ddd9</guid><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 09:30:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fr Paul Rex Brown]]></title><description><![CDATA[A little girl who ran and told a nun after she had been touched by a priest "got a belting" for casting aspersions on the man, an inquiry has heard. Internal Catholic church records show the man, Father Paul Rex Brown, would later be dumped from his priestly duties following a litany of complaints. They included claims he was a drunk and that he sexually abused two boys in the 1980s. Evidence before the Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse shows he has been...]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/fr-paul-rex-brown</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6accb1d0d5633a76fab644dc</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 10:10:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brother Cormac (Francis David) Brophy]]></title><description><![CDATA[Francis David Brophy, known in the De La Salle Brothers as Brother Cormac Brophy, was a member of the De La Salle Brothers who was convicted of multiple child sexual abuse offences committed while working at BoysTown, Queensland. Early Ministry Court records indicate that Brother Cormac served at the following institutions: De La Salle College, Malvern, Victoria – during the 1960s. BoysTown, Beaudesert, Queensland – from 1977 to 1983. Allegations indicate that Brophy began sexually abusing...]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/brother-cormac-francis-david-brophy</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6acc6aed600a7efb215a575b</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 05:07:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Father Peter Julian Brock]]></title><description><![CDATA[Early Life and Ministry Father Peter Julian Brock was born on 18 September 1945 and was ordained a Catholic priest for the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese in the late 1960s. Throughout his ministry he served in numerous parishes across the diocese, including Waratah, Merewether, Charlestown, Kurri Kurri, Boolaroo, Belmont, New Lambton and East Maitland. During the 1980s he also worked as a part-time chaplain to the deaf community and to the University of Newcastle. Abuse of John and Paul Parmeter...]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/father-peter-julian-brock</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6acc6a2346e3b0dcdaa053e3</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 05:03:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Father Thomas Brennan]]></title><description><![CDATA[Father Thomas Brennan was a Catholic priest of the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese in New South Wales. He served in several senior positions during his career, including as principal of St Pius X Catholic High School at Adamstown and later as Vicar General of the diocese. Principal at St Pius X High School During the late 1970s, Father Brennan was principal of St Pius X Catholic High School in Adamstown, Newcastle. Police later alleged that two boys reported they had been sexually assaulted by...]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/father-thomas-brennan</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6acc69b17ea08a33d77d95b9</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 05:02:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Father Anthony (Tony) Bongiorno]]></title><description><![CDATA[Father Anthony (Tony) Bongiorno was a Catholic priest of the Melbourne Archdiocese. Although he was acquitted of criminal charges in 1996, the Melbourne Archdiocese and the Victorian Crimes Compensation Tribunal later accepted that he had sexually abused children. The full number of his victims is unknown. Priesthood and Parish Appointments Anthony Bongiorno began training for the priesthood around 1960 at the age of 25. According to the Australian Catholic Directory, his parish appointments...]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/father-anthony-tony-bongiorno</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6acc68d946e3b0dcdaa051e8</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 04:58:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brother Robert Charles Best ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Brother Robert Charles Best was a member of the Christian Brothers who taught in Catholic schools across Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia for more than three decades. During that time he sexually abused numerous boys under his care. Although concerns about his behaviour were known within the Christian Brothers, he remained in ministry for many years before police investigations eventually led to multiple convictions and lengthy prison sentences. Early Life and Teaching Career Robert...]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/brother-robert-charles-best</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6acc6858165b84309aa69bab</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 04:56:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brother Luke Francis Beltram]]></title><description><![CDATA[Teaching Career Brother Luke Francis Beltram was born around 1947 and was a member of the De La Salle Brothers. During his teaching career he served at several De La Salle schools in Victoria and New South Wales, including: St John's College, Dandenong, Victoria De La Salle College, Malvern, Victoria St Bede's College, East Bentleigh, Victoria De La Salle College, Dubbo, New South Wales Oakhill College, Castle Hill, New South Wales Brother Beltram died on 10 March 2000, aged 53. Allegations...]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/brother-luke-francis-beltram</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6acc66d87ea08a33d77d90a2</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 04:49:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Father Roger Michael Bellemore]]></title><description><![CDATA[Father Roger Michael Bellemore was a member of the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers) and served in New South Wales, Tasmania and Western Australia during a lengthy career. In February 2008, following years of court proceedings, the Tasmanian Supreme Court convicted him of multiple child sexual abuse offences committed while he was a teacher and boarding supervisor at Marist College in Burnie, Tasmania. Early Ministry and Teaching Roger Bellemore belonged to the Marist Fathers, a Catholic...]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/father-roger-michael-bellemore</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6acc66667ea08a33d77d8fc1</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 04:47:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Father Charles Alfred Barnett ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Father Charles Alfred Barnett was a Catholic priest and member of the Vincentian Fathers (also known as the Congregation of the Mission). Over a period of approximately 20 years, he sexually abused children in South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. His crimes eventually resulted in multiple convictions and lengthy prison sentences. Early Life and Entry into the Priesthood Originally an Anglican, Charles Alfred Barnett lived at Stepney in Adelaide before...]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/father-charles-alfred-barnett</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6acc6603600a7efb215a4ed6</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 04:46:21 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Father Wilfred Baker]]></title><description><![CDATA[Early Life and Ministry Wilfred James "Billy" Baker was born on 1 July 1936. As a student, he boarded at Assumption College, Kilmore, where he was known by the nickname "Turd" Baker. He later studied for the priesthood at Corpus Christi College, Melbourne, and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1961. Throughout his ministry, Baker served in a number of Melbourne parishes, including: Jordanville (1962–1966) East Brighton (1966–1968) Mordialloc (1968–1969) Balaclava (1969–1971) Hospital...]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/father-wilfred-baker</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6acc657d600a7efb215a4df9</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 04:44:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Father Damian Barker]]></title><description><![CDATA[Father Damian Barker (died May 1998) was a member of the Carmelite Fathers who served as a chaplain and parish priest in Victoria, Western Australia and New South Wales. During his ministry he served at: Parish of Port Melbourne/Middle Park, Victoria Christian Brothers College (CBC) Fremantle, Western Australia (Junior School Chaplain, approximately 1983–1985) Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Hilton, Western Australia Our Lady of Mount Carmel College, Sunbury, Victoria St Killian's Parish,...]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/father-damian-barker</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6acc64f603ce31675d0be544</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 04:41:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Father John " Jack' Ayers]]></title><description><![CDATA[Background Father John ("Jack") Ayers was a member of the Salesians of Don Bosco, a Catholic religious order founded by Saint John Bosco in Italy in 1859. The Salesians operate schools and youth services throughout Australia and internationally. The order has faced numerous historical allegations of child sexual abuse involving some of its members, and several former students have pursued civil claims relating to abuse that allegedly occurred in Salesian institutions. Allegations and Civil...]]></description><link>https://www.cata.net.au/post/father-john-jack-ayers</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6acc6400600a7efb215a4bbb</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 04:37:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1ee44_972193ea90bb4dbea2c5eed4029e5deb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Donald McLeish</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>