MELBOURNE, April 22 (UPI) -- A 67-year-old Roman Catholic priest was charged Monday in Australia with child sex offenses dating back nearly 40 years, police say.
Victoria police called the case a "breakthrough" in negotiations with the Catholic Church, The Australian newspaper reported.
The priest, who hasn't been named, faces 10 charges including or sodomy, indecent assault and common law assault.
The charges stem from sexual acts the priest allegedly performed on children in Sunbury and Ferntree Gully from 1976-85.
A police spokeswoman termed the man's arrest "a breakthrough in cooperation between the Victoria Police and the Catholic Church." Police had been negotiating with the Vatican for the suspect to return from Rome since July, she said.
Police officials previously complained about a lack of cooperation from the Catholic Church.
Church officials haven't appeared at an inquiry being conducted by the Victoria Parliament.
The priest was arrested by detectives with Taskforce Sano, which was created last year to investigate complaints of child sex abuse.
