The Newcastle Court has sentenced Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson to 12 months' detention for concealing child sexual abuse.

"There is no remorse or contrition showed by the offender," said Magistrate Robert Stone.  "I am of the opinion the sentence should not be suspended.  It does not support the terms of general deterrence."

After he was found guilty last month of covering up abuse by pedophile priest James Patrick Fletcher in New South Wales, Wilson became the most senior Roman Catholic in the world to be convicted of the crime.  The court ordered that Wilson be assessed for "home detention" - signaling he will probably avoid jail time.  Wilson will be eligible for parole in six months.

Some survivors of clergy abuse were in the courtroom, and many were not satisfied with the sentence and shook their heads in disagreement.  But for some, the real victory was last month when Archbishop Wilson was convicted.

"We have made history here in Australia," said abuse survivor Peter Gogarty.  "The highest ranking church official to ever be brought to account (for) what we know was a worldwide, systematic abuse of children and the concealment of that abuse."