Australian bishop charged with child sex crime.

A senior of the Catholic Church who was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1998, has been charged with a child sex offence.

Bishop Max Davis is the first bishop in Australia to be charged with child sexual assault. He is also the most senior clergyman in the Catholic Church to ever be charged with a child sex offence.

The Church has said that Davis “emphatically denies” the charge.

The bishop has been charged with allegedly abusing a student in 1969 when he was a teacher, at St Benedict’s College in Western Australia.

Davis currently has a post with the Australian Defence Force – itself embroiled in controversy regarding sexual offences – and has stood aside while the matter is being considered by a WA court.

A statement from the Catholic Military Ordinariate of Australia has said, “”An allegation has been made to the police that in 1969 Bishop Max Davis abused a student at St. Benedict’s College in New Nocria.”

“At that time – 45 years ago – the bishop was not ordained. The bishop emphatically denies the allegation and the charge will be defended.”

Mamamia will bring you further details as the story develops.