In 1953, Little returned to Melbourne. He was appointed assistant priest to Carlton, then appointed assistant at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne in 1955. From 1956 until 1959 he worked as secretary to the apostolic delegate, Archbishop Carboni, in Sydney.[4] In 1959, Little again returned to Melbourne as assistant priest at St Patrick's Cathedral. In 1965 he became the dean of the cathedral and then, in 1971, parish priest of St Ambrose's Brunswick. During these years he was involved in pastoral work with the large number of migrants finding a new home in Australia, especially within the Italian community. He was also a lecturer at the provincial seminary, a member of the Diocesan Ecumenical Affairs Commission, a member and chair of Victorian Action for World Development, a member of the organising committee for the Melbourne Eucharistic Congress and episcopal vicar for the apostolate of the laity.
In 1983, Little attended the Synod of Bishops in Rome, themed "Reconciliation". During his time as Archbishop of Melbourne his support of the education and renewal for the Catholic community expressed itself in such initiatives as the publication of the religious education guidelines, the launch of the RENEW program, the establishment of deaneries, and the "Tomorrow's Church" process. Little was committed to the continuing formation of laity and priests. He was known in Melbourne for his support for the Essendon Football Club. In July 1996 his resignation from the office of archbishop, for reasons of health, was accepted by the Pope.[4]
In 2013, the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into abuse of children was told by Archbishop Denis Hart that Little had covered up paedophile priests and moved them to other parishes where they would abuse again.[7]
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse concluded that Little had "dismissed or ignored serious allegations of child sexual abuse against a number of priests" between 1974 and 1996.[8]
St Patrick's College in Ballarat has stated that it would remove Little's name from a building which had been named in his honour and revoke his status as an inducted "Legend of the College".[9]
Death
Little died in April 2008 and was buried in the crypt of St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne.[10]
Notes
^Brolly 2008 and Zwartz 2008 both say Little died on 7 April. Note that a death notice placed in The Age newspaper by "the Bishops, Priests and people of the Archdiocese of Melbourne" stated that Little "died peacefully at home on the [morning of] 8 April 2008" (The Age, 10 April 2008, page 13).
References
^Commonly known as "Sir Frank" as in this story here Hannan, Ewin (9 April 2008). "Archbishop Frank Little dies at 82". The Australian. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
