Father Ray Whitehouse 

Father Raymond William Whitehouse was a former parish priest who served within the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. He was born around 1945 and died 6 July 1999. The Australian Catholic Directory indicates that he served at the following parishes after being ordained as a priest on 19 May 1973:

  • St Peter’s Parish - East Bentleigh, Vic (mid 1970s);

  • St Therese’s Parish - Essendon, Vic (late 1970s to early 80s);

  • St Thomas Parish - Dandenong, Vic (1980s);

  • St Scholastica’s Parish - Bennetswood, Vic (1980s);

  • Balwyn and Deepdene Parish - Deepdene, Vic (1980s); and

  • St Patrick’s Parish - Lilydale, Vic (1989 to 1998).

It is reported that the Archdiocese of Melbourne accepted a complaint from a former altar boy who served under Father Whitehouse at St Peter's Parish in 1974. It was alleged that Father Whitehouse sexually assaulted the altar boy in the church sacristy on numerous occasions after late-morning Mass on Sundays.

The Age newspaper in Melbourne has also reported that Father Whitehouse was the leader of a group in the Corpus Christi seminary in the 1960s that has being described as being “overtly homosexual” and “who enjoyed baiting authorities and playing “high-camp” games.” The Corpus Christi seminary has been recognised as producing some of the worst child sexual abuse offenders in Victoria and Australia. Royal Commission data indicates that the seminary produced 47 priests where allegations of sexual and physical abuse were made against them. Furthermore, these priests received on average 5.7 claims of abuse against them. Known perpetrators to have being products of the Corpus Christi seminary include Father Gerald Ridsdale, Father Nazareno Fasciale; Father Wilfred Baker; Father Ronald Pickering; Father Desmond Gannon; and Father Kevin O’Donnell.

Moody Law has in the past and is still representing clients who have made allegations of sexual and physical abuse against clergy members and priests serving in parishes 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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