David Cappo
Encyclopedia
David Cappo AO
is Vicar General
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide
in South Australia
.
, Cappo, as Vicar General, is next in line to the current Bishop in South Australia, Philip Wilson.
.
, South Australia, from 1996-2000.
In 2002 Pope John Paul II appointed Cappo a Prelate of Honour
, an appointment accompanied by the title of Monsignor
.
Cappo is also a qualified social worker and has filled various community advisory roles in that capacity.
Cappo was appointed as Chair of the Social Inclusion Board in South Australia by Premier Mike Rann
in 2002. In 2006 he was appointed as the Commissioner of the Board.
In September 2011, Senator Nick Xenophon
controversially used parliamentary privilege
to accuse a South Austalian Catholic priest of rape, in relation to events which were alleged to have occurred in the 1960s. Cappo and the Archbishop of Adelaide Philip Wilson were accused of failing to properly investigate the allegations when made in 2007. All three men deny the Senator's claims. Xenophon decided to use parliamentary privilege after receiving an unsatisfactory response from the Church when advising them of his intentions and ultimatum. Cappo was set to take on a national role for mental health by Prime Minister
Julia Gillard
. Due to the claims, Cappo stepped down from the new position after just one week, as well as from the Social Inclusion Board. Several days later, after high-level media coverage, Xenophon indicated he might not have used parliamentary privilege had he known the person he accused was about to take a period of leave.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
is Vicar General
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide is a Latin rite metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Australia located in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia....
in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
.
, Cappo, as Vicar General, is next in line to the current Bishop in South Australia, Philip Wilson.
Early life
Cappo was born at Memorial Hospital in Adelaide, and educated at St Joseph's Primary School at Kingswood and at Rostrevor CollegeRostrevor College
Rostrevor College is a Roman Catholic, day and boarding school for boys', located in Woodforde, a suburb 15 minutes from the CBD of Adelaide, South Australia....
.
Career
David began his priesthood as the parish priest of HectorvilleHectorville, South Australia
Hectorville is a small lower middle class suburb of Adelaide in the City of Campbelltown. It is one of eight suburbs within the City of Campbelltown.The first house in Hectorville was built by Price Maurice in 1849 next to Fourth Creek...
, South Australia, from 1996-2000.
In 2002 Pope John Paul II appointed Cappo a Prelate of Honour
Honorary Prelate
An Honorary Prelate of His Holiness is a priest to whom the Pope has granted this title. They are addressed as Monsignor and have certain privileges as regards ecclesiastical dress...
, an appointment accompanied by the title of Monsignor
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
.
Cappo is also a qualified social worker and has filled various community advisory roles in that capacity.
Cappo was appointed as Chair of the Social Inclusion Board in South Australia by Premier Mike Rann
Mike Rann
Michael David Rann MHA, CNZM , Australian politician, served as the 44th Premier of South Australia. He led the South Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party to minority government at the 2002 election, before attaining a landslide win at the 2006 election...
in 2002. In 2006 he was appointed as the Commissioner of the Board.
In September 2011, Senator Nick Xenophon
Nick Xenophon
Nicholas "Nick" Xenophon is a South Australian barrister, anti-gambling campaigner and politician. He attended Prince Alfred College, and studied law at the University of Adelaide, attaining his Bachelor of Laws in 1981. Xenophon established and became principal of his own law firm, Xenophon & Co....
controversially used parliamentary privilege
Parliamentary privilege
Parliamentary privilege is a legal immunity enjoyed by members of certain legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made related to one's duties as a legislator. It is common in countries whose constitutions are...
to accuse a South Austalian Catholic priest of rape, in relation to events which were alleged to have occurred in the 1960s. Cappo and the Archbishop of Adelaide Philip Wilson were accused of failing to properly investigate the allegations when made in 2007. All three men deny the Senator's claims. Xenophon decided to use parliamentary privilege after receiving an unsatisfactory response from the Church when advising them of his intentions and ultimatum. Cappo was set to take on a national role for mental health by Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
Julia Gillard
Julia Gillard
Julia Eileen Gillard is the 27th and current Prime Minister of Australia, in office since June 2010.Gillard was born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales and migrated with her family to Adelaide, Australia in 1966, attending Mitcham Demonstration School and Unley High School. In 1982 Gillard moved...
. Due to the claims, Cappo stepped down from the new position after just one week, as well as from the Social Inclusion Board. Several days later, after high-level media coverage, Xenophon indicated he might not have used parliamentary privilege had he known the person he accused was about to take a period of leave.