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One News
November 17, 2002
Civil case brought against priest
A
woman who says she was a victim of disgraced high profile priest Father Jim
Consedine is taking a civil case to the High Court.
Consedine is best known for his work as a campaigner for prison reform, but in
October he stepped down from his
Bonnie Quilter, 45, first met Consedine when she was an inmate at Christchurch
Womens Prison. He was the prison chaplain.
Quilter says the offending began soon after she was released.
"It was disgusting, it was offensive.
"To have a man expose himself anyway at anytime is bad enough but to have
a priest and someone who you trusted and gone to for help and learnt to rely
on... look that's shocking," she says.
The church says the claims were not raised in meetings it had with Quilter.
Quilter first complained about the former Lyttelton parish priest more than
five years ago. She received a response in July this year.
"I believe myself and the other victims haven't been treated properly by
the church," Quilter says.
Since July she has received a sincere letter apologising to her for the
oversight.
In 1997 Quilter was imprisoned for a second time after stealing two cheques
from Consedine to fund what she says was a lifestyle beyond her means. She is
currently repaying the stolen money.
Quilter says pursuing the priest through the courts has nothing to do with
revenge.
"This has to do with sexual abuse of myself and others that's been going
on for a long time."
Other women are also considering legal action against Consedine, some for
offences dating back to the 1970s.
Consedine is currently in