Church to probe sex abuse
2002-02-19 10:39
Sydney - The Anglican Church announced on Tuesday an independent inquiry
into child abuse in its institutions amid accusations of a cover-up
by the governor-general when he was a church leader.
The inquiry was announced as Governor-General Peter Hollingworth
failed to silence his critics or quell demands for his resignation
over allegations that he hushed up complaints against churchmen of
sex abuse.
Hollingworth's successor as Archbishop of Brisbane, Phillip
Aspinall, said the inquiry would be headed by an "independent and
utterly trustworthy and reliable person" to be named later.
"I expect that the allegations made in relation to the
governor-general would certainly be subject matter for the inquiry
to consider," Aspinall said.
Hollingworth, in an Australian Broadcasting Corp interview
screened late on Tuesday, said he would be happy to cooperate with any
independent inquiry.
He also admitted he had mishandled claims of child abuse in a
preparatory school at Toowoomba in Queensland, saying he "wasn't up
to it" at the time as he was new to the job and his wife was ill.
He conceded he had failed to inform a church sexual abuse
committee that the man he appointed to head it was a priest he had
himself cleared of a child sex abuse accusation.
The priest, who later faced another allegation, had denied it
and he had accepted the denial, Hollingworth said.
But Hollingworth responded to another allegation by blaming the
victim, in a case in which he failed to reprimand a since
delicensed bishop who admitted a sexual relationship with a
14-year-old girl when he was a priest in the 1950s.
"There is no suggestion of rape or anything like that, quite the
contrary," Hollingworth said.
'He called the victims liars'
His remark provoked a furious response from the Women's
Electoral Lobby which described his statement as appalling.
The People's Alliance Against Sexual Abuse described his
response as "pathetic", saying what was needed was an apology but
instead Hollingworth had "called the victims liars".
But Hollingworth, appointed by Prime Minister John Howard almost
a year ago, vowed he would complete his five-year term as the
monarch's representative in Australia.
The scandal is reported to be causing deep concern in government
circles just two weeks before Howard and Hollingworth are due to
welcome Britain's Queen Elizabeth to Australia on an official
visit.
Threats have been made of protest demonstrations at the opening
by the queen of a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
at Coolum in Queensland.
Queensland state Premier Peter Beattie said the case involving
the 14-year-old girl and the bishop should have been reported to
the police and the issue was one of several Hollingworth was
obliged to clear up before CHOGM.
Howard said on Tuesday that Hollingworth still enjoyed his
confidence, but asked if he could decide to serve out his full
five-year term, he said: "The governor-general holds office at Her
Majesty's pleasure."
He told reporters he found anything to do with abuse of children
abominable. "It is repulsive to all Australians, and I think the
community should be united in its hostility to it," he added.
"It makes my flesh creep."
- Sapa-AFP
- SAPA