A 71-year-old Catholic priest has been charged with indecent assault and stood down from his position as the head of a South Island parish.
Father Aidan Kay will appear in the Blenheim District Court tomorrow facing one charge of indecently assaulting a male over the age of 17.
The New Zealand Herald has learned that the alleged assault happened recently.
Police would not comment further, saying the matter was before the courts and the "individual" charged had a right to seek name suppression.
However, he was named yesterday in a statement issued by the church's NZ head, Archbishop John Dew.
"Police have charged Fr Aidan Kay CP, a priest at St Mary's Catholic Parish in Blenheim, with an offence following a complaint. As a result he has been removed from ministry. As this case is due before the courts no further details will be discussed."
Kay moved to Blenheim in early 2013 and alongside his priest duties he was on the board of trustees at St Mary's School.
Contacted yesterday, chairwoman Jacinda Thompson said she would speak with the principal and the rest of the board before considering any public statement.
Kay is a priest of the Passionist order. From 2008 to January 2013, he was the parish priest at St Frances Xavier in south Hobart. Before he left, the parish newspaper published an article, saying his superiors had been "impressed by his willingness to consult with the community before making important decisions about the future directions of the parish".
Last year, Kay featured in the Wellington archdiocese's publication Wel-Com after being caught in the July 21 quake in Seddon. He had just started to read the Gospel when the 6.5 quake struck.
"I stepped back from the lectern against the wall and stood with both hands on the wall and looked at the beams on the roof wondering what they would do."
In December, according to a Passionist newsletter, his car was hit by an out-of-control truck. He suffered a minor bang to the head.
- Anna Leask of the New Zealand Herald
