Caritas Australia (CA) is appalled to learn that a convicted child abuser was appointed as the Country Director for Caritas Central African Republic (CAR).

CA understands the former Country Director, Fr. Luk Delft, a Belgian national, is now the subject of further allegations and has returned to Belgium where he is under investigation.

CA has written to Caritas Internationalis (CI) to call for an independent investigation into how this was allowed to occur and to understand what CI is doing to assure the victims, supporters and institutional donors that all steps have been taken to prevent a reoccurrence.

Despite this distressing revelation, CA will continue to work to serve the poor and most vulnerable across the world and will continue to be vigilant in ensuring that we have the highest possible standards in the delivery of aid.