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| Bishop cried at prospect of defrocking senior cleric over abuse, inquiry told Bishop cried at prospect of defrocking senior cleric over abuse, inquiry told | |
| (4 months later) | |
| An Anglican bishop balked at having to defrock an influential senior cleric for sexual misconduct even though a church hearing had recommended he do so, a royal commission has been told. | An Anglican bishop balked at having to defrock an influential senior cleric for sexual misconduct even though a church hearing had recommended he do so, a royal commission has been told. |
| The commission has been hearing complex and startling evidence on how the Anglican diocese of Newcastle allegedly took a “do nothing” approach for decades to allegations of widespread child sex abuse by its clergy. | The commission has been hearing complex and startling evidence on how the Anglican diocese of Newcastle allegedly took a “do nothing” approach for decades to allegations of widespread child sex abuse by its clergy. |
| On Tuesday, an abuse survivor, CKH, told how Bishop Brian Farran met him in 2012 and cried over the difficult decision he faced: whether to defrock the former dean of Newcastle cathedral, Graeme Lawrence. | On Tuesday, an abuse survivor, CKH, told how Bishop Brian Farran met him in 2012 and cried over the difficult decision he faced: whether to defrock the former dean of Newcastle cathedral, Graeme Lawrence. |
| Farran was in charge of the diocese from 2005 to 2012 and will give evidence at this hearing. | Farran was in charge of the diocese from 2005 to 2012 and will give evidence at this hearing. |
| CKH said Farran told him he had decided not to defrock Lawrence because of “all the parishioners who would be upset if he did”. | CKH said Farran told him he had decided not to defrock Lawrence because of “all the parishioners who would be upset if he did”. |
| When CKH forcefully insisted Lawrence should be defrocked, the bishop relented. | When CKH forcefully insisted Lawrence should be defrocked, the bishop relented. |
| The diocese’s professional standards board had recommended action against Lawrence, as well as priests Andrew Duncan, Graeme Sturt and Bruce Hoare, for alleged sexual misconduct, including group sexual abuse with CKH. | The diocese’s professional standards board had recommended action against Lawrence, as well as priests Andrew Duncan, Graeme Sturt and Bruce Hoare, for alleged sexual misconduct, including group sexual abuse with CKH. |
| These men, including five others – among them Lawrence’s long-time partner Gregory Goyette – are the focus of the commission’s investigation into how until the mid-2000s the church turned a blind eye to reports of abuse at a boys ‘home and predatory behaviour at a seminary in Morpeth. | These men, including five others – among them Lawrence’s long-time partner Gregory Goyette – are the focus of the commission’s investigation into how until the mid-2000s the church turned a blind eye to reports of abuse at a boys ‘home and predatory behaviour at a seminary in Morpeth. |
| Evidence has been given that Lawrence was friendly with a number of priests later revealed to be pedophiles, among them Peter Rushton, who died in 2007. | Evidence has been given that Lawrence was friendly with a number of priests later revealed to be pedophiles, among them Peter Rushton, who died in 2007. |
| Lawrence has been added to the witness list for this hearing. | Lawrence has been added to the witness list for this hearing. |
| CKH told the commission how Duncan first sexually abused him when he was 14, in 1980. | CKH told the commission how Duncan first sexually abused him when he was 14, in 1980. |
| He said he thought Lawrence, who was rector of the local church at the time, knew of the abuse. | He said he thought Lawrence, who was rector of the local church at the time, knew of the abuse. |
| CHK said further that in 1981 Lawrence, on a visit to CKH’s home, put the boy’s hand on his erect penis and told him he “could have that any time”. | CHK said further that in 1981 Lawrence, on a visit to CKH’s home, put the boy’s hand on his erect penis and told him he “could have that any time”. |
| He was then sexually abused at Lawrence’s rectory with Lawrence and Goyette in 1982, CKH said. | He was then sexually abused at Lawrence’s rectory with Lawrence and Goyette in 1982, CKH said. |
| A few years later after a conference, Lawrence and Hoare had sex with him while Sturt stroked CKH’s 17-year-old friend who had passed out drunk, he told the commission. CKH spoke of his naivety as a boy and how it took him years to face the realisation that what Duncan and Lawrence were doing was a gross abuse of trust. | A few years later after a conference, Lawrence and Hoare had sex with him while Sturt stroked CKH’s 17-year-old friend who had passed out drunk, he told the commission. CKH spoke of his naivety as a boy and how it took him years to face the realisation that what Duncan and Lawrence were doing was a gross abuse of trust. |
| He said their “evil inner voices” made them “unable to comprehend that our shared sexual activities were wrong”. | He said their “evil inner voices” made them “unable to comprehend that our shared sexual activities were wrong”. |
| Under cross examination, Lawrence’s barrister, Philip Massey, put to CKH: “I suggest to you that, in fact, Mr Lawrence never had a sexual relationship with you in any form. What do you say about that?” | Under cross examination, Lawrence’s barrister, Philip Massey, put to CKH: “I suggest to you that, in fact, Mr Lawrence never had a sexual relationship with you in any form. What do you say about that?” |
| CKH replied: “No. I have come here to speak the truth. It is the truth, and I feel I have been very brave to speak out about what Lawrence did to me.” | CKH replied: “No. I have come here to speak the truth. It is the truth, and I feel I have been very brave to speak out about what Lawrence did to me.” |
| Lawrence failed to get the supreme court to overturn the decision by the professional standards body to defrock him. | Lawrence failed to get the supreme court to overturn the decision by the professional standards body to defrock him. |
| CKH went to police in 2009 but the case was not pursued. | CKH went to police in 2009 but the case was not pursued. |