The Anglican church’s complaints body has ruled former governor general Peter Hollingworth should not be defrocked despite upholding multiple allegations of misconduct over his handling of child abuse complaints while in a senior leadership role.
Hollingworth has been the subject of complaints over his handling of abuse cases in the Anglican church while archbishop of Brisbane in the 1990s, a role he held for 11 years before becoming Australia’s 23rd governor general.
The process, conducted by Kooyoora, the Anglican church’s complaints handling body, has caused immense frustration to survivors and advocates due to its vast delays, secrecy and alleged omissions.
The hearing in February was held behind closed doors and took place more than five years after complaints about Hollingworth were first lodged with Kooyoora.
In a decision on Monday, the church’s professional standards board found Hollingworth had committed misconduct over his handling of abuse complaints against two clergy members, John Elliot and Donald Shearman, whom he allowed to remain in the church despite knowing they had sexually assaulted children.
It also found he had made unsatisfactory and insensitive comments about survivor Beth Heinrich – erroneously named in Monday’s decision as “Beth Shearman”, her abuser’s surname – during a 2002 episode of television program Australian Story. The 2002 comments appeared to blame Heinrich for her abuse. Hollingworth has previously denied that was his intention.
Hollingworth was also found to have committed misconduct due to harsh and insensitive communications concerning another victim, known only as BYB.
Despite the board’s findings, it recommended to the archbishop of Melbourne that Hollingworth should remain in the church in his current role of priest, provided he apologised and is reprimanded.
“The Professional Standards Board has further determined … that there will be no unacceptable risk of harm to any person if the respondent continues to hold the role, office or position he currently holds,” it found.
It ruled he was fit for ministry and that there was no unacceptable risk of harm if he continued in the role. That would allow him to continue to assist with services at his local parish and facilitate weddings, funerals, baptisms and other ceremonies, including the ordination of new priests and the consecration of bishops.
Survivors immediately criticised the decision, describing it as a “whitewash”.
Heinrich told the Guardian she was “not surprised” and said the outcome was a “foregone conclusion”.
She fears the decision will send a message to other survivors, who were thinking about coming forward against the Anglican church.
“I think it will stymy a lot of other people who were hoping to come forward with their abuse and their disappointment,” she said. “It will put them further back, I hope it doesn’t, but I fear it will.”
Asked whether she would accept Hollingworth’s apology, Heinrich said: “Well, he vilified me on national television. How’s the apology going to be? It’s one thing to say you’re sorry, you’ve got to show you’re sorry.”
Heinrich’s lawyer, Judy Courtin, said the decision brought no justice or accountability.
“This decision only serves to further traumatise our client,” Courtin said.
“There is nothing but disincentive for other victims to reach out to the church for acknowledgement and justice.”
Hollingworth is not accused of any abuse towards children.
In a media statement, Hollingworth said the process had been “long and painful for everyone involved” but noted the allegations against him had been considered by four inquiries, and none had recommended sanctions.
“I made mistakes and I cannot undo them,” he said. “But I committed no crimes. There is no evidence that there was any abuse because of any decisions I made, or did not make.”
“The Board has recommended to the Archbishop that I be reprimanded over two matters and for some insensitivity and harsh communications on some matters.”
He said that “hardly a day passed” when he did not reflect on his failings.
“I had devoted my life to social justice, pastoral care and healing but I had little experience in dealing with the child abuse issues,” he said. “Like other church leaders, I was unduly influenced by the advice of lawyers and insurance companies.”
Hollingworth had already been the subject of damning findings in the child abuse royal commission, prior to the Kooyoora process starting.
The royal commission found that in 1993 Hollingworth failed to act to remove Elliot, a lay preacher, despite Elliot having admitted to him that he had abused two boys. One of the survivors had also told him he had been abused by Elliot. A psychiatrist tasked with assessing Elliot told Hollingworth that Elliot, who was also a teacher, “was a paedophile and that his personality type was untreatable”.
But Hollingworth, despite being presented with the admission and the psychiatrist’s advice, allowed Elliot to continue in his role as rector of Dalby until he retired five years later.
The royal commission described it as a “serious error of judgment” and Hollingworth has apologised for his handling of the matter. The complaints to Kooyoora about Hollingworth were made at the conclusion of the royal commission.
Survivors have previously likened the complicated, multi-step Kooyoora process to “torture”, saying it was subject to frequent and unexplained delays, and that they were denied basic information about the process. The professional standards tribunal hearing that occurred earlier this year was first meant to take place in February 2021.
“They tell us absolutely nothing,” one survivor said, requesting anonymity. “They didn’t even reply to many complainants. They cancel proceedings at the last minute, leaving everyone in distress.”
“One complainant has missed out on surgery due to the church not communicating what is happening.”
Hollingworth was allowed back into a bishop role in the Anglican church after his term as governor general. His stint in the governor general’s office ended in 2003, when he resigned after a backlash over his public handling of allegations made by the survivor Heinrich.
The royal commission has previously published an analysis of child abuse complaints across the 23 Anglican dioceses between 1980 to the end of 2015. That analysis shows that the Brisbane diocese recorded the highest number of complaints, accounting for 33% of all complaints received during that period.
The archbishop of Melbourne, Philip Freier, said he will implement the recommendations made by the professional standards board and will “publish a written statement in the coming days”.
“It is important to note that the Diocese has no influence over the complaints process. I have not been involved in any deliberations or investigation,” he said.
• In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000. International helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org.
