In the homily, Fr Bill Edebohls of Malvern East in Melbourne took aim at lawyers and media at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

He said he was concerned the royal commission would not give victims an opportunity to heal.

"Why? Because both the media and the lawyers, like the baying crowd of men in the Gospel ready to throw stones, don't understand the need for a justice that is drenched in mercy."

Fr Edebohls was preaching on the Gospel account of Jesus and the woman caught committing adultery.

"Maybe to get the real drama and effect of the story we ought to replace the adulterous woman with a paedophile priest," he stated.

The priest's homily went on to say: "That does not mean there is no condemnation of the sin, no punishment or consequences for the perpetrator or an institution that protected him. But it does mean justice with mercy."

"Condemnation alone leaves the person with their sin with no way out, so nothing is lost by repeat offences."

The statements were printed in the local parish school's March newsletter. The school regularly puts homilies in its newsletter.

One parent said it was abhorrent to compare a crime like paedophilia with a moral issue like adultery.

Bernard Barrett, a researcher at victims support group Broken Rites, said Fr Edebohls' comments downplayed serious crimes.

Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne spokesman Shane Healy said Fr Edebohls had replaced the adulterous woman of Jesus' time with the worst sinner in our time, the paedophile priest.

Mr Healy said Fr Edebohls was "absolutely not" comparing paedophilia to adultery.

But the spokesman added that "lazy people who didn't go to the trouble of reading the thing fully might very well land there".

Fr Edebohls wrote an explanatory note that was sent home to parents of St Mary's primary school last week.

Fr Edebohls was once the Anglican Dean of Ballarat and was Melbourne's first married priest to run a Catholic parish.

Sources

• The Age
• The Guardian
• Image: Orthocuban

St James Catholic Primary School in Brighton, east of Melbourne, included an article titled "15 Ways to Protect Your Marriage" in its August 7 school newsletter.

The article, submitted by parish priest Fr Gerard Johnson, contained tips for wives to keep an eye on her husband's co-workers and being "careful" on a girls night out.

It also suggested that couples should have complete access to each other's social media accounts and text messages.

A mother, only identified as Rachel, is seeking an apology from the school after the eldest of her two daughters came home and asked if she could no longer have male friends as suggested by the full-page newsletter article.

"Parents already feel let down by the Catholic Church by its inability to keep up with the times, but are now concerned that in 2014 our children are being educated in this sexist and misogynistic environment," she said.

The article originally appeared on iMOM Family First and says porn is the "cancer that's ruining the sex lives of countless married couples" and suggests married women should not talk about sex with members of the opposite sex.

Another parent, who remained anonymous, called the newsletter article "outdated claptrap".

"It has caused an uproar in our community," she said.

The article's first paragraph states: "Even when things are good in your relationship with your husband, it's wise to keep your eyes open, communicate well and put some ‘guard rails' in place to keep things on track and safe."

"Since women are often the more communicative half of a marriage, it may fall on you to initiate discussions and see that important things are addressed . . . ," the introduction continued.

Fr Johnson said he was disappointed at the response, but added that he had received far more positive feedback than negative.

He rejected claims the article was sexist or derogatory towards women, saying that the points raised refer generally to the total marriage relationship.

St James's principal said the school had no control over the portion of the newsletter concerned, over which the parish priest had the final say.

Sources

• 15 Ways to Protect Your Marriage
• Daily Mail
• Herald Sun
• Image: More Than