www.peterellis.co.nz : seeking justice for Peter Ellis : mail to: [email protected]

Accusations of Abuse in Institutions

Index: Home Page Peter Ellis
Index: Accusations in Institutions

The Press
August 28, 2003

Consedine resigns
by Jarrod Booker

The Lyttelton Catholic priest accused of sexual misconduct has officially resigned from his Canterbury parish.

Father Jim Consedine is reportedly back in Canterbury after attending a Sydney programme specialising in treating clergy for violation of professional boundaries, sexual disorders, and abuse.

He is alleged to have engaged in inappropriate sexual behaviour against four women, dating back to the early 1970s.

Effective yesterday, Father Consedine had resigned from the Lyttelton parish, Catholic Communications director Lyndsay Freer said.

He had been given a year's leave from public ministry, but would retain his title as a priest, Ms Freer said.

It was conceivable that he could return to a local parish.

One of the four complainants against Father Consedine said last night that people she knew had spotted him back in Lyttelton in recent weeks.

"I'm concerned that he is back here. I felt quite anxious about running into him again," she said.

She and other complainants continue to pursue action against Father Consedine. Another complainant, Bonnie Quilter, said he still had "a lot of questions to answer".