Pedophile Wilfred Edwin Dennis 'let back into church'

A DISTRICT Court judge is "astonished" the Anglican Church allowed a jailed pedophile priest to re-enter the ministry - where he abused more children.

A DISTRICT Court judge says he is "astonished" the Anglican Church allowed a priest jailed for sexually abusing three altar boys to re-enter the ministry and commit "strikingly similar" offences.

Judge Sydney Tilmouth today said he found it remarkable that Wilfred Edwin Dennis was left in a position by the Anglican Church to commit the abuse, after being found guilty of molesting three altar boys in the early 1970s.

"I must say, whether he volunteered or the church, in effect, was going to do that, it's astonishing that he went back to a ministry having (already) gone to jail for abusing altar boys," Judge Tilmouth said.

"He (Dennis) was back in the position where he could prey on young boys again, he was given a ministry and there were altar boys."

Dennis, 74, of Vale Park, has been found guilty of carnal knowledge against a separate altar boy, aged 15-16, between 1975 and 1977.

Outside court, his sister said the Anglican Church had allowed Dennis back into the ministry because they had trusted him.

Judge Tilmouth told the court that the judge who earlier sentenced Dennis had done so on the "false premise" that Dennis would not be allowed back into the church.

"She sentenced him on the premise that Dennis was not going back to the ministry again and therefore not being exposed to the temptation of young boys."

He said Dennis's crimes were "strikingly simIlar" to his earlier offences, and he must take that into account when sentencing.

In a statement read to the court, Dennis's victim said the abuse had changed him from a "happy outgoing teenager" into a depressed and rebellious young man who is still suffering to this day.

"I am angry that Wilfred Dennis took away my innocence and I feel confused and depressed about the impact he has had on my life," the victim said.

"I get angry when I hear on the news of children being abused."

During his trial, the court heard Dennis had told the Archbishop of the Traditional Anglican Communion - a splinter group from the Anglican Church which he later joined - that he had molested "more than 40" boys during his priesthood with the Anglican Church.

Dennis has appealed the conviction.

Judge Tilmouth remanded Dennis on continuing bail to be sentenced in April.