The Archdiocese of Melbourne did not know a paedophile priest, who the church had put on paid leave, had left Australia.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Age revealed on Wednesday that Father Peter Grasby, who was put on administrative leave in 2012, had left Melbourne for Malaysia and was seeking the company of "younger Asian men" using gay dating websites.
The church confirmed that the complaint against Father Grasby, which related to abuse at St Joseph's in West Brunswick against a boy aged as young as 10, had been upheld in 2013.
The church said the complaint had also been referred to police, despite saying at the time that the victim had declined to report to the force.
Father Grasby was assistant priest at the time of the sexual abuse, which started in the late 1970s and may have continued until the early 1980s.
The priest asked to move overseas in August 2013, a Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne spokesman said.
"Archbishop Denis Hart advised Father Grasby in writing that moving overseas ... would not be approved and that he is required to live in accordance with the dignity of the priesthood and Church law and to remain accountable to the Archbishop," the spokesman said.
"Archbishop Hart emphasised the need to know his whereabouts and that if he chose to leave Australia without permission, further advice would be sought from the Independent Commissioner regarding his situation.
Father Grasby has deleted his profile on dating site Planetromeo.
"As Father Grasby did not inform the Archdiocese of his move to Malaysia contrary to the conditions imposed on him in August 2013, Archbishop Hart will now refer the matter to the Independent Commissioner for his consideration and recommendation."
The Independent Commissioner will rule on what action to take against Father Grasby.
The church defended its response to Father Grasby, saying it informed the parishes at St Mary Magdalen, in Jordanville, near Chadstone, and St Joseph's, every step of the way.
The revelation that the church did not know Father Grasby had left Australia until reading The Age report raises further questions about its supervision of priests who they have placed on leave after confirming they are child sex abusers.
Father Grasby had been the parish priest at St Mary Magdalen when the complaint was made.
He was also subject to allegations regarding his time at St Michael's in North Melbourne.
Father Grasby deleted his profile on Planetromeo after The Age's report.
It had also been revealed former parishioners were contacted by Father Grasby using the site.
