The Catholic Church says a prominent priest who was a self-confessed paedophile wasn't reported to police because the victims didn't want that.

It's been revealed Father Michael Shirres, who died in 1997, confessed to abusing a girl as young as five-years-old and is suspected of abusing dozens more between the 60's and 90's.

The church knew about it and placed him on a sex offenders programme but allowed him to keep lecturing in Māori Theology at Auckland University.

Catholic Auckland Bishop Pat Dunn told Mike Hosking records show complainants specifically asked that the police not be involved.

"The general practice then was to just go with whatever the complaints were asking for and help them and support them in the here and now."

Dunn says one of the victims, Annie Hill, believes there may be a number of other people who were abused.

"I thank Annie for bringing that to my attention, to our attention and I would hope that if people have been abused then please do speak up."

LISTEN ABOVE AS PAT DUNN SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING