An 87-year-old retired Roman Catholic priest appeared on Wednesday before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court and was told by Magistrate Ann Collins there is sufficient evidence for him to stand trial for sex abuse.

The court was established by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard as more cases of clergy abuse were reported across the country.

His accuser, now 54, claimed he was sexually abused by the priest when he was 11 years old. The assault happened between 1970 and 1972.

The victim was sent by his aunt to the priest to be explained about puberty. He was familiar with the priest because he did odd jobs to earn pocket money. After doing his chores, the priest sat down with him for a sex education lesson.

However, at the end of the discussion, the priest would order him to kneel beside his chair and ordered him to confess, which he found weird because the sacrament of Penance is often done inside the church.

The victim told the court that on his last visit, the priest was only wearing a dressing gown and tried to kiss him then later took him to a bedroom where the sexual assault allegedly happened.

After the assault, the priest told the victim not to tell anyone what happened between them. He kept silent for 40 years but decided to break it in 2010 when he learned that his sister invited his abuser to preside over the funeral of his aunt.

He then told his wife about his experience when they were watching a documentary about Catholic priests which made him very angry.

He filed a police complaint in 2011. The old priest, who was not named by newspapers for legal reason, pleaded not guilty.

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