Adult sex abuse by priests ‘illegal’

PRIESTS who have sex with their parishioners are criminals, a victims’ support group insists.

Rape Crisis Network Ireland co-ordinator Fiona Neary said sexual exploitation of adult parishioners was a very serious breach of ethics and must not be tolerated.

“We want the law changed on this because it is adult sexual abuse,” she insisted. Unfortunately, she said, some Church leaders still regarded these situations as affairs and not sexual exploitation.