A PRIEST from Camden Town faces charges of gross indecency against a teenage boy dating back more than 30 years to before he was ordained, it emerged this week.
Father Dominic McKenna, 54, of Our Lady of Hal church in Arlington Road, Camden Town, denies the charges.
He has been suspended from his duties since the police investigation began in January.
He appeared at Thames Magistrate’s Court on October 13 charged with two counts gross indecency against an under-16.
At mass last weekend parishioners were handed letters from Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, informing them of the charges and reas-suring them that the church’s child protection guidelines brought in in the wake of the Nolan Review into child abuse by priests had been followed.
The Cardinal wrote of his “great sadness” upon hearing of the charges and urged parishioners with any concerns to contact the dioceses' child protection co-ordinator.
A spokesman for the diocese said: “Fr McKenna has elected to go for trial and has indicated to the court that he will contest the charges and that he will plead not guilty.”
The spokesman added: “The diocesan child protection scheme has fully co-operated with the police in their investigations and will continue to provide every assistance.”
Father McKenna, who has been moved from his home provided by the church to a secret address and is currently on administrative leave on full pay, is due to appear again at Thames Magistrates Court on November 24 for committal to trial.