Priests in sex-claims ban still working

Father Padraic Maye was found guilty by the church of molesting two young sisters in the 1980s and raping a woman in the 1970s, and was forced to retire in 2005. He denied the allegations.

Father Finian Egan was accused of groping two girls decades ago and the outcome of a church investigation is pending. Egan has denied the accusations.

But Egan's superior, Bishop David Walker who handles complaints against priests at Sydney's Broken Bay diocese, has apologised to Egan's accusers for his actions.

Neither priest has been charged by police. Both were banned from clerical duties.

Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, last week said priests who molested children were "permanently removed from the ministry" under protocols established by the Australian church since 1988.

However, the church confirmed Monday that Maye and Egan have performed church duties, including holding mass and performing a wedding. Bishops in Melbourne and Sydney said both priests had acted without permission.

Cardinal Pell said any priests guilty of abuse should not perform church-related duties.

"The key principle to help protect children is that priests who are known to have abused children should be permanently removed from public ministry," he said. "Further steps need to be considered against offender priests who do not follow the protocols."

Kellie-Anne Roche, who complained to the church in 2008 that she had been groped by Egan from the age of 15 in Sydney in the 1980s, said she was disgusted that the priest had since conducted a wedding and had been publicly honoured for his 50 years' service.

"The church is still more concerned about shielding their priests' reputations and keeping the public in the dark about what they have done than they are about justice for victims," the 40-year-old mother of two said.