Posted on 11/15/2023 9:50:27 AM PST by Morgana
A senior Victorian Buddhist monk is facing a new allegations of child sexual abuse after media reporting earlier this year.
Wearing traditional orange robes, Vijitha Naotunne, 68, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court via videolink from his lawyer’s office on Friday.
Representing Mr Naotunne, Joanne Poole said they intended to fight the allegations, which he denied had occurred.
Mr Naotunne, who is the chief monk at the Dhamma Sarana Buddhist Sri Lankan Temple, was charged in August over alleged child sexual abuse of three girls dating back as far as the mid-1990s.
In September, Victoria Police revealed two more alleged victims had come forward following media reports of his first court appearance in August.
According to charge documents released by Magistrate Donna Bakos on Friday, Mr Naotunne is now facing seven new charges of indecent act with a child under 16 – resulting in a total of 20 charges.
Two charges are dated between 1994 and 1995, two are alleged to have occured in 2001 and three others are said to have occurred between 2001 and 2002.
He was charged with nine counts of sexual penetration of a child under the age of 16 and four counts of indecent act with a child under 16.
At the time, police alleged Mr Naotunne came in contact with the children through his role at a temple.
The incidents allegedly took place between 1996 and 2004 and involved school items, including a pink eraser and plastic ruler.
Mr Naotunne will return to court in December.
(Excerpt) Read more at au.news.yahoo.com ...
These monks have taken a vow of celibacy. Just like their fathers, and their fathers before them.
“Ah, you are a bachelor, just like your father” —Benny Hill
And more then a little creeped out.
A pink eraser?
Ew.
I was trying to tell you all that it’s in all religions.
Basically in all organizations.
Which is why none of them can operate in happy happy good will land.
We have rules when it comes to the parenting center and one of them is you are never alone behind a closed door with someone who comes to seek help.
Reducing temptation is helpful for the good people and keeps those who are, less good shall we say, in check to the point they check out.
What HTB, you don't trust anybody?
No, not even, or perhaps especially, myself.
We all have a heart of darkness, best for everyone if we build protocols for our self where it has less chance of operating freely.
Same reason we have financial audits on a regular basis.
My Thai girlfriend said they get really horny under those gowns. When a young man gets the honored family selection and spends time as a monk they often sneak out of the temple at night, put on a hat, and go to the bar.
It is one thing to sneak out and cut loose with adults who are willing.
Going after children or people in your care is quite another.
Three times! and in some sects, up to eight times. And some sects of Buddhist monks (apparently mostly in Japan, not Sri Lanka) are only optionally celibate.
Good one. L)
I was going to an Alanon meeting on the beautiful campus of our local Catholic university. Got the chills when I walked past a certain building there, and never went back after I learned that’s where the defrocked pedo priests live.
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