How Brother Gregory Joseph Sutton fled Australia to land in the Midwest Child Exploitation Pipeline, Protected by Hierarchy

 

The Courier Mail - 2014

How Brother Gregory Joseph Sutton fled Australia to

the Midwest Child Exploitation Pipeline,

Protected by Hierarchy

Introduction

The case of Brother Gregory Joseph Sutton, in my opinion, exposes vast systemic failures within institutions to confront child sexual abuse.

Who Was Brother Gregory Joseph Sutton? Born on March 19, 1951, Gregory Joseph Sutton joined the Marist Brothers and taught at Catholic primary schools across New South Wales — including postings in Lismore and Campbelltown — where he worked closely with young children.

By the late 1980s, serious allegations of inappropriate conduct emerged, triggering limited internal inquiries. It appears Church officials prioritized institutional reputation. In April 1987, Sutton was removed from teaching duties at St Carthage's Primary School and placed on "administrative leave" in Australia. In August 1989, shortly after a police investigation began in New South Wales, the Marist Brothers leadership -specifically Brother Alexis Turton, directed Sutton to leave Australia to avoid police and the potential scandal. Sutton traveled to the Southdown Institute in Ontario, Canada — a Church initiative for "treatment" which was later found to have been used by the order to manage behavior and prevent police involvement rather than ensure justice. 

He participated in an assessment program there from late August 1989 and completed the program in July 1990, after which he remained in the US for several years before his eventual extradition and conviction in Australia in 1996.

Relocation and Dispensation -  After treatment, Sutton was formally released from his vows in October 1991. Officially, this was described as a voluntary departure from religious life. Sutton relocated to the United States, where affiliated Marist communities provided accommodation and spiritual guidance. In early 1992, New South Wales police issued an arrest warrant after a growing number of complaints. According to survivor testimony along with evidence presented to the Royal Commission, senior Marist figures in the U.S., including Brothers based in Chicago and New York, advised him to remain abroad and maintain a low profile.

                         

                                                          Daily Telegraph-July 2013

 Life in the United States - Sutton lived within Marist communities. He was enrolled at Loyola University Chicago and later took an administrative position at a Catholic school in Florissant, Missouri. It has been reported he was directed to avoid direct contact with children.

 Arrest, Extradition, and Conviction-  Sutton’s freedom ended in August 1995 when U.S. federal marshals arrested him in Missouri on multiple charges of sexual offenses, some dating back decades. He fought extradition but ultimately failed; the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene, and on April 29, 1996, he was returned to Australia.

In August 1996, Sutton pleaded guilty to 67 counts of child sexual abuse involving 15 identified victims, and though later evidence indicated that at least 27 former students reported assaults. He received an 18-year prison sentence; however, it was later reduced on appeal to 15 years with a 12-year minimum. A non-publication order suppressed many details until 2014, when Sutton appeared as a witness before the Royal Commission to describe his actions and movements within the Church.

Recent Developments- As of 2025, Sutton, aged 74, again appeared before an Australian court — this time in Cairns — for two historical offenses from the 1970s in Innisfail, Queensland. He pleaded guilty to indecent treatment of a boy under 14. His sentencing was a 15-month suspended sentence.

Why Sutton’s Case Matters- Sutton, I believe, underscores several critical failures within institutional systems designed to protect children: Internal protection over accountability: The Church appears to have prioritized image management and “treatment”. Cross-border mobility- Religious networks enabled relocation to jurisdictions that, seemingly, delayed justice for victims, while in turn may have created more. Systemic collapse of oversight: Multiple failures — administrative, moral, and legal — converged to allow abuse to persist unchecked.

Sydney Morning Herald July 2013

A Broader Pattern -

Gregory Sutton’s case mirrors patterns found across many religious orders in Australia and beyond. The Marist Brothers, among others, have faced scrutiny and numerous confirmed cases where known abusers were transferred rather than reported. The Royal Commission revealed that institutional loyalty and secrecy often outweighed moral duty and law. Sutton and BoysTown as Parallel Cases

Gregory Sutton’s story does not stand alone. In the same decades (1960s–1990s), BoysTown Beaudesert – run by the De La Salle Brothers in Queensland – became Australia’s single worst site of institutional child abuse, with 219 credible claims of sexual and physical abuse.

Aired November 2025

I am a collateral victim of John David Norman - we are healing together.

 I do hope this helps others realize they were not ever alone. 

If any information is incorrect pls contact me or leave a comment. These are complex cases and a lot of bad information is already out there.

Author's/Artist's Note: As a disabled survivor using assistive technology, which changes day by day pending health and that's days needs- (#zebralife), I pour these chapters from my own experiences and the people I've met along the path of life. Assistive tech helps me myriad of ways present my message. If Lior's eyes reflect your shadows, reach out—resources like RAINN or Support for Men at 1in6.org are lifelines. What's next? Check back. Comments welcome, always.