An 88-year-old Victorian Catholic priest has been sentenced to two years in jail for raping a boy more than 40 years ago.

James Scannell was convicted in the Victorian County Court of one charge of raping the 12-year-old while he was working in Kew in the early 1970s.

The court heard that Scannell had always denied the offence and had shown no remorse.

The priest suffered from a series of serious health problems, including a heart condition and cancer, the court heard.

Scannell joined the church as a Marist Brother in 1945 and served as a priest for almost 50 years, working in parishes around Melbourne, including Warburton, Brighton, Flemington and Geelong.

His lawyer told the court his client dedicated his life to serving the community and had set up an important education program for autistic children.

But Judge David Parsons said Scannell was guilty of a serious breach of trust and that he had no choice but to sentence the elderly priest to an immediate term of imprisonment.

Although Scannell was suspended last year, the church had yet to revoke his religious orders.

His credentials for working with children were only revoked last year.

Questions over whether Melbourne Archdiocese knew

Bernard Barrett, a representative from victims' advocacy group Broken Rites, said Scannell's victim had waited a long time for justice.

"The guilty parties covered this up all these years," he said.

Dr Barrett said the conviction raised serious questions about whether the Melbourne Archdiocese knew about Scannell's offending and what they would do in response to his jailing.

"[Scannell] has been a priest in the Melbourne Archdiocese for 50 years, including working with disabled children," Dr Barrett said.

"Questions need to be asked of the Melbourne Archdiocese about how and why this sort of thing could have happened and how it's taken all these years for it to come out.

"Why is it that victims always feel as though they must remain silent, when the offender is a priest or some sort of church person?

"He's still listed in the current edition of the Annual Australian Catholic Directory, as Reverend Father Scannell, past or emeritus, a distinguished priest."

Scannell will be eligible for parole in 12 months.

