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The Press
January 18, 2003
Bishop warned of potential liability
by Yvonne Martin
A
law firm has written to the Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, John Cunneen,
warning he could potentially be liable over his handling of an errant priest.
Father Jim Consedine stepped down as Lyttelton parish priest after 17 years in
October amid allegations of sexual misconduct from four women, some dating back
to the 1970s.
He admitted misconduct and was sent by the Bishop to a programme in
Grant Cameron Associates faxed a letter to Bishop Cunneen yesterday on behalf
of one complainant, Bonnie Quilter, who is pursuing legal action over the
church's handling of her case.
Lawyer Patrick McPherson wrote that preliminary research indicated a potential
legal claim against the Bishop and the diocese over an alleged failure to act.
Ms Quilter complained about Father Consedine's behaviour in 1997 but was
subsequently subjected to further "inappropriate and unlawful sexual
conduct", said Mr McPherson.
He wrote that another option was to issue legal proceedings against Father
Consedine and the diocese.
Mr McPherson declined to comment until the Bishop had had an opportunity to
respond to his letter.
The Bishop said he could not comment to The Press because he had not received
the letter.
The same law firm is representing a group of men negotiating with the St John
of God Order about sexual abuse suffered as boys at
Mr McPherson asked the Bishop to consider setting up a similar process to that
of St John of God's, where a retired High Court judge is reviewing complaints
and advising on awards.