The Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide, Philip Wilson will not resign in the wake of an Alzheimer's diagnosis, brought to light at a court hearing relating to child sexual abuse he allegedly covered up.
Archbishop Philip Wilson was due to stand trial in Newcastle Local Court yesterday, but successfully argued for an adjournment due to medical issues.
In 2015, he was charged with covering up abuse, at the hands of Hunter Valley priest Jim Fletcher in the 1970s.
The Archbishop's lawyers said he just had a pacemaker put in and had Alzheimer's disease, discovered after a fall.
Archbishop Wilson has released a statement in the wake of the Alzheimer's diagnosis.
"An initial reaction by many people is to think that life is all but over, and that a person with such a diagnosis cannot continue to live a productive life and contribute to society," he said.
"I am fully aware that some people will now judge me in this light. But I hope to prove them wrong.
"I have been prescribed medication that may assist me greatly in slowing the progress of this disease and indeed improve my present condition."
Newcastle Local Court has heard the medication could take six months to work.
It was also noted that the medication is only successful for one in three sufferers.
Abuse survivors call for retirement
There have been calls by some abuse survivors for the Archbishop to step down in the wake of his diagnosis.
But Archbishop Wilson is resisting those calls for now.
"If a point comes in the next eight years before my mandatory retirement, and I am advised by my doctors that the effects of Alzheimer's disease might be beginning to impair my ability to function properly as Archbishop, I will offer my resignation," Archbishop Wilson said.
"I have informed Pope Francis' Ambassador in Australia, the Apostolic Nuncio, of my diagnoses and will provide him with the medical reports.
"I will update him regularly with the results of tests and consultations with my neurologist during the years ahead."
Archbishop ask for calm after diagnosis
The Archbishop said he was at peace with his diagnosis and hoped to reach out to other sufferers.
"I am in God's hands and I trust in the love and care of the Lord on the journey of life I have before me," Archbishop Wilson said.
"I ask that you take this information that I am providing to you calmly and peacefully. There is no cause for panic," he said.
"I will continue to be present to you with all the love I have for the Archdiocese of Adelaide.
"And I intend to reach out to others who live with the Alzheimer's condition and to be a sign of support and encouragement to them."
The Archbishop's barrister Stephen Odgers has told Newcastle Local Court that his client was keen to have his day in court.
