Bishop on Trial for Alleged Abuse | Australia News

A retired Catholic bishop, 76, stands trial on 19 sexual assault charges after prosecutors allege he used church funds to host booze-soaked parties targeting three young Aboriginal men. The defense insists the case is about alleged misconduct—not party hosting or fund misuse—and urges jurors to ignore biases against the Church. Prosecutors detail how one 16-year-old complainant was allegedly groomed over a decade, subjected to kissing, wrestling, and private touching, driven by fear and perceived power imbalance. Defense challenges witness credibility, citing substance abuse and criminal histories, and suggests the complainant may have fabricated claims for early parole and lost financial support. The trial, which began with 26 charges, continues as the jury weighs conflicting evidence. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/3bb9a436e01c367d