Father Anthony Bongiorno

Father Anthony Salvatore Bongiorno, was a former Catholic priest who served his religious career throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. Records indicate that he was born 5 July 1934 and died 15 February 2002. He began training for the priesthood in around 1960 when he was 25 years old. It is recorded that Father Bongiorno served at the following parishes:

• Maidstone (Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish, Footscray West) - late 1960s;

• Brunswick West (St Joseph's parish) - early 1970s;

• Fawkner (St Mark's parish) - mid 1970s;

• Thornbury (St Mary's parish) - late 1970s to 1980;

• Reservoir North parish - 1981; and

• Brunswick (St Ambrose's parish, 287 Sydney Road) - May 1981 to 1995.

It is alleged that during his service with the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Father Bongiorno sexually abused numerous children of which the total number is unknown. Online records indicate that in 1996 Father Bongiorno (then aged 61) was was charged in 1961 by Victoria Police with multiple counts of indicent assault involving three boys. It is reported that the alleged abused occurred between 1981 to 1987. Father Bongiorno went on to face two separate trials involving two of the victims but was acquitted by a jury on both occasions due to the alleged assaults been considered “historical”.

However, due to the adverse publicity that the Archdiocese was receiving in relation to Father Bongiorno’s allegations, he was placed on leave and did not return to parish work before dying in 2002.

Moody Law has in the past and is still representing clients who have made allegations of sexual and physical abuse against various clergy members belonging to and serving within the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.

We invite former victims to tell us confidentially what information they may have, and we will explain what options are available to help with these cases.

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