A day after independent Australian Senator Nick Xenophon named in Parliament the Catholic priest accused by an Anglican archbishop of sexual molestation, the clergy denied the charge Wednesday.

In a hastily called press conference at Brighton Parish, Monsignor Ian Dempsey belied Traditional Anglican Communion Primate John Hepworth's charge, which allegedly took place about 45 years ago when they were seminarians in Adelaide.

"I categorically deny the allegation which I note are said to relate to events that occurred some 45 years ago, and they have nothing at all to do with underage people," Mr Dempsey read a prepared statement.

He said he was aware of Hepworth "unsubstantiated allegations" through the probe initiated by the Archbishop of Adelaide and submitted his denial in writing to the inquiry.

Mr Dempsey - who will go on a one month leave which he arranged even before the sexual molestation scandal broke out in media this week - declined to make any further comments about the case.

Besides Mr Dempsey, the Anglican archbishop also accused two other priests of sexual abuse, but they are now deceased.

Mr Xenophon revealed through parliamentary privilege the identity of Mr Dempsey after the Adelaide Archdiocese failed to meet the noontime deadline the senator set on Tuesday for the Catholic Church to suspend the accused priest.

The senator said people supported his move, citing 98 per cent of the 100 calls he got after the Senate speech agreed with the public disclosure.

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