Ex-Vic priest dies before next abuse trial

A Victorian pedophile priest who once confessed to molesting his parishioners' children has died before facing fresh sex abuse allegations in court.

Wilfred James Baker, 77, was due to stand trial in the Victorian County Court on charges including indecent assault and buggery after new complainants came forward last year.

The former parish priest of Eltham had already been jailed for four years, with a minimum of two, in 1999 after he confessed to sexually abusing eight boys over a 20-year period.

He was awaiting trial for offences allegedly committed in the 1960s and 1970s when he died.

The Office of Public Prosecutions filed a discontinuance with the court on Tuesday.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne confirmed Baker died on February 15.

In a statement, it apologised to victims and their families for their suffering at Baker's hands.

"The Archdiocese acknowledges and apologises for the suffering which Baker caused to those whom he abused and to the families of his victims," the statement said.