A NSW Catholic priest has been charged with a number of child sex offences.

He is the fourth priest to be charged by Strike Force Georgiana detectives, who are investigating a number of alleged sexual assaults on young boys in the greater Newcastle area in the 1970s, '80s and '90s.

The 47-year-old Raymond Terrace man, who was arrested yesterday, was suspended from pastoral duties in May last year, pending the investigation by the strike force.