A former Maitland priest, Archbishop Philip Wilson has become the most senior Catholic clergyman to be charged with concealing the sexual abuse of children.

Police attached to Strike Force Lantle charged the 64-year-old with concealing a serious offence yesterday.

He is accused of failing to report the abuse of defrocked priest James Fletcher when both men were working in the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese in the 1970s.

Vacy man Peter Gogarty, who was one of Fletcher’s victims between 1972 and 1978, said he had always believed other ­members of the clergy knew about Fletcher’s actions.

Mr Gogarty said he went through a gamut of emotions yesterday after he found out that Archbishop Wilson had been charged.

“I’m so pleased that, no matter what the outcome is, our legal system in NSW will come out shining because it is clear to everyone that no one is above the law,” he said.

“If there is an accusation that someone has done something wrong, it will be investigated, no matter what their position is.”

Morpeth man Bob O’Toole, who was abused as a child by a Marist Brother in Newcastle, said the charge was an important breakthrough.

“As far as victims are concerned, it’s a sad day, but it’s also a day that demonstrates that the Catholic Church is not above the law,” he said.

“He’ll [Archbishop Wilson] have his day in court and he’ll be judged.”

Archbishop Wilson grew up in Cessnock and worked as a priest in Maitland.

Pope John Paul II ordained him as Bishop of Wollongong in 1996.

He became the Archbishop of Adelaide in 2002 and was made president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in 2006.

Archbishop Wilson said in a statement yesterday afternoon that he would fight the charge.

“The suggestion appears to be that I failed to bring to the attention of police a conversation I am alleged to have had in 1976, when I was a junior priest, that a now-deceased priest had abused a child,” he said.

“From the time this was first brought to my attention last year, I have completely denied the allegation. 

“I intend to vigorously defend my innocence through the judicial system and I have retained Senior Counsel, Mr Ian Temby AO, who will represent me in respect of it. 

“I am unable to make any further comment at this stage, but I would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm my commitment to dealing proactively with the issue of child sexual abuse and the implementation of best-practice child protection measures, which I have pioneered since becoming a bishop.”

He will face Newcastle Local Court on April 30.