Fr Carl Stafford pleads guilty to historic child sexual abuse
He maintained his innocence right up to the start of his District Court trial but former Central Coast priest Father Carl Stafford has confessed his sins.
Disgraced former Central Coast priest Father Carl Stafford has pleaded guilty to eight counts of abusing four boys in the 1980s and 90s.
The 79-year-old waited until his trial to begin in the Downing Centre District Court to plead guilty to the historic sexual abuse charges after pleading not guilty during his arraignment at Gosford District Court in November.
The former St Patricks and Kincumber parish priest pleaded guilty to abusing two victims after he took up a lay teaching position at St Gregory’s College, Campbelltown, in the 1980s.
Stafford was later ordained in 1994 and appointed parish priest of St Patrick’s the following year.
Stafford befriended his first victim in 1984, and had him visit his living quarters where he would have the boy sit on his lap while he indecently assaulted him.
He took another boy camping in 1986 and sexually assaulted him while the young victim “pretended to be asleep” because the child did not know what else to do.
Stafford then befriended two other boys at St Patrick’s Primary School who he took camping and got them to play a game called “strip jack” in 1996 and 1997.
“The loser of the game was required to flash their penis or bottom,” the Crown’s case statement, tendered to court, read.
He also fondled them in his tent.
On one occasion Stafford told a victim “don’t tell anyone about last night, it was last night”, and intimated “you won’t be an altar boy”.
In a statement released on Friday the Diocese of Broken Bay said it had fully co-operated with the criminal investigation since referring it to police in 2010 when it first became aware of the complaints.
It came after former Broken Bay Bishop David Walker announced a church investigation in 2011 found the allegations were “likely to have happened”.
Stafford was stripped of his rights to say Mass or celebrate sacraments but he was not formally defrocked.
The Diocese’s statement said Stafford had not resided in Broken Bay since 2010 and nor would he while he awaits sentence in December, having been granted conditional bail.
“The Diocese expresses its great sadness at the trauma and suffering the victims and their families have experienced,” the statement read.
“We are aware of the courage it has taken for them to come forward and we are ready to assist them on their journey of healing. The Diocese expresses its shame that such incidents of clerical sexual abuse have occurred.
“The Diocese conveys its clear commitment to keeping all people safe in our communities, particularly those who are vulnerable. The safety and wellbeing of our young people is our highest priority.”
The Diocese is encouraging anyone with information of any crime to always contact police.
Anyone who needs assistance or support can also contact the Diocesan Office for Safeguarding on: 8379 1605 or Lifeline 131 114.
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