The Catholic Church in Australia stated in June 2011 that it has stood down one of its priests (Father Glenn Humphreys, CM) while an allegation of abuse is being investigated. The church says that the allegation relates to the early 1980s.

Fr Humphreys is a member of a Catholic religious order, the Congregation of the Mission (also called the Vincentian Fathers). This order has its headquarters in Sydney, and it also has various other addresses around Australia such as (to name such a few examples):

• St STANISLAUS College, Bathurst, New South Wales. ("Rev. G. Humphreys CM" was listed at this address in the 1979 edition of the Directory of Australian Catholic Clergy.)

• SYDNEY: Rev. G. Humphreys has been listed at various times at the Vincentian Community in Eastwood, as well as St Anthony's parish in Marsfield and St Vincent's parish in Ashfield.

• WESTERN AUSTRALIA: St Vincent's parish in Kwinana, Perth.

From 2002 onwards, he ministered in the diocese of Townsville in far-north Queensland. In 2002, he was listed as ministering in Kirwan, a suburb of the city of Townsville. After that, he was appointed to the Sacred Heart Cathedral parish in Townsville, where he became the parish administrator, running this parish on behalf of the bishop.

Fr Humphreys was still working at this cathedral when the allegation about the 1980s was received by the church's Professional Standards Office in 2011 but the Catholic Church statement says that the allegation relates to another part of Australia before Fr Humphrey came to the Townsville diocese.

The church's statement was reported in the Townsville Bulletin daily newspaper on 23 June 2011 (in an article by journalist Rachel Toune). The Townsville Bulletin article stated:

Priest to face abuse inquiry

A Townsville priest has been stood down from his parish following a complaint of abuse.

Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish Father Glenn Humphreys, who had been in Townsville for more than nine years, has been ordered back to Sydney while an investigation is carried out by the Vincentian Catholic religious order.

Vincentian leader Fr Greg Cooney flew to Townsville last week [mid-June, 2011] to deliver the news, which has shocked parishioners.

The complaint dates back to the early 1980s.

Fr Cooney said procedures detailed in the Towards Healing guidelines would be followed to resolve the matter but would not comment on the nature of the complaint. Towards Healing is a protocol for dealing with complaints of abuse against personnel of the Catholic Church.

"One thing I need to make clear is not every complaint concerns the issue of sexual abuse - there are other things covered in Towards Healing," Fr Cooney said.

"Basically I can tell you I have received a complaint from the early 1980s and, according to the procedures laid down in Towards Healing, he had to stand aside until the matter's resolved.

"These procedures can take quite some time."

According to a glossary in the Towards Healing document, abuse complaints made against personnel are described in two ways.

The first is listed as "sexual assault, sexual harassment or any other conduct of a sexual nature that is inconsistent with the integrity of the relationship between church personnel and those who are in their pastoral care". The second criteria is listed as "intentional acts by a person with responsibility for a child or young person causing significant physical injury, or other behaviour which causes serious physical pain or mental anguish without any legitimate disciplinary purpose as judged by the standards of the time when the behaviour occurred".

Townsville Diocesan Chancellor Len Horner said news of Fr Humphreys' departure had come as a surprise but the diocese had not been privy to the information surrounding the decision.

Mr Horner said Townsville Bishop Michael Putney had given a message to cathedral parishioners and others on the weekend when informing them about the decision.

"We must ... continue to be alert to the needs of any who believe they have suffered in any way at the hands of the clergy and to offer them above all, our support," Bishop Putney said.
[END OF THE 'TOWNSVILLE BULLETIN" NEWS ITEM]