The Bishop of the Australian Defence Force has been charged with a sex offence dating back to 1969.
Bishop Max Davis is believed to be the most senior clergyman in the Catholic Church, and the first bishop, to be charged with a child sex offence.
The alleged incident took place when Bishop Davis was teaching at St Benedict's College in New Norcia, north-east of Perth.
The Church said Bishop Davis was not an ordained priest when the incident is alleged to have occurred, and that he "emphatically denies" the charge.
"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," said a statement from the Catholic Military Ordinariate of Australia.
"At that time - 45 years ago - the bishop was not ordained. The bishop emphatically denies the allegation and the charge will be defended."
The statement said that Bishop Davis will stand aside from his office and his role as Catholic member of the Religious Advisory Committee to the Serviceswhile the matter is dealt with by the courts.
According to The Catholic Weekly, Bishop Davis grew up in Perth and was ordained in 1971.
He is the first military bishop to have served in the Defence Forces, having been in the Navy in the early 60s, according to the weekly.
He has been Australia's military bishop since 2003.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24345295/catholic-bishop-max-davis-charged-with-sex-offence-dating-back-to-1969/
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