Thursday, November 15, 2012

Accused molesting priest blamed God

A FORMER Catholic priest accused of molesting boys at a Victorian school told a colleague that "God made us this way and it's his fault", court documents allege.
 
David Edwin Rapson, 59, is accused of abusing boys between 1973 and 1990, including at the Salesian College Rupertswood in Sunbury where he was a teacher.

Rapson is facing a committal hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

In a statement tendered today, one of the boys alleges he was molested by Rapson in the school infirmary when he was in year 10.

The boy said he was in the infirmary because he had been stung by a bee.

He alleges there were a number of children in the infirmary at the time and Rapson made each drink a cup of Milo.

The boy said the Milo tasted "a bit strong and quite acrid".

He said he saw Rapson, whom he called Brother Rapson, going to each bed and lifting up the blankets and making derogatory comments about the boys' penises.

He alleges another priest came into to the room and asked Rapson what he was doing.

Rapson replied: "You know what we do here."

To which the other priest said: "You've really got to resist."

Rapson replied: "God made us this way and it's his fault."

The boy's statement said Rapson also told the other priest he was the same as him.

A short time later Rapson allegedly molested the boy.

"While he was assaulting me he was saying things like 'You're useless, you're no good' and things like that," the boy said in his statement.

The boy, who is now in his 50s, gave his evidence in camera but his statement was released to the media.

Rapson is facing charges including one count of rape and four counts of indecently assaulting a child under 16.

The committal hearing before magistrate Greg McNamara is continuing.