A Catholic priest who sexually abused 12 boys at a prestigious juvenile college in the 1980s will be imprisoned in Sydney on Friday.
Former teacher, music conductor, rugby coach, and dormitory master Anthony William Peter Calana has committed 26 crimes against 12 boys at Chevalier College in Southern Highlands, New South Wales. It will be decided by the State (NSW) District Court. 30 years ago.
Historical accusations included 22 obscene assaults and 4 sexual intercourses with two students.
A 79-year-old woman, also known as Father Tony Karana in her private life, was first arrested in Sydney and was tried by a jury in April 2019. Later, bail was granted by the Sydney District Court, but in October of that year.
During the seven-week trial, the jury heard evidence from twelve plaintiffs between the ages of 11 and 15 at the time the crime was committed.
Karana’s abuse was not limited to one area of the university. As a rugby coach, he grabbed a 12-year-old genital while showing how to pack Scrum. At the swimming carnival, he grabbed the genitals of seven boys a year underwater. And he repeatedly attacked a 13-year-old child in the story room of a music band.
The last victim said, “You are pleased with the man of God,” and “If you do what I say, God will love you,” while the boy is suffering from his grip. I was told a word to the effect.
Also, in the course of the incident, the boy who reported the abuse to his parents was unbelievable, and it was reported that this resulted in further trauma that exacerbated the effects of the abuse and further trauma for the rest of their lives.
Karana was removed from his educational role in 1989 and was forced to undergo psychiatric evaluation and counseling after complaints.
During that counseling, he wrote about his “sexual problem” of being sexually interested in boys.
Judge Robin Tapman, who sentenced an elderly priest to prison, heard that Karana was isolated from her peers and family at the age of 10 when she took on a junior religious role.
His lawyer said this “overwhelmingly dysfunctional development” was the contextual background of his psychological dysfunction.
However, the crown pointed out that the former priest ran around the better years of his life and enjoyed his freedom while worthy of punishment for the crime.
Chevalier College responded to the original verdict via email sent to current and former students on July 13, after the initial conviction. In it, current principal Sean McDermott declared the university’s deep sorrow for the event.
“I would like to emphasize the deep sorrow that such an event, which is openly acknowledged as part of Chevalier’s history, may have happened so far,” said Principal Sean McDermott’s apology statement.
Karana has been detained since July 14, the day of the jury’s final verdict.
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Nina Nguyen is a Sydney-based Vietnamese reporter with a focus on Australian news. Contact her at [email protected].