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Church "Didn't Discipline Pedophile"

Sky News
November 21, 2013

http://www.skynews.com.au/national/article.aspx?id=926778

An inquiry has heard of an Anglican official's regret at not taking disciplinary action against a convicted pedophile, which allowed him to continue representing himself as an ordained minister.

Reverend Allan Kitchingman was convicted in 2002 on five counts of indecently assaulting a 13-year-old boy in 1975 at the North Coast Children's Home, where he was chaplain.

He presented himself as an ordained minister in the community once he finished his jail term for indecently assaulting a teenager.

The Royal Commission into Institutionalised Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is examining the Anglican Diocese of Grafton's response to abuse at the Lismore home.

Philip Gerber, former professional standards director for the dioceses of Sydney, Grafton and Newcastle, was asked why the church did not take disciplinary action against Kitchingman.

Mr Gerber said, in his mind, Kitchingman had been convicted, was no longer practising and had been dealt with.

Counsel assisting the commission Simeon Beckett put it to Mr Gerber there was nothing stopping Kitchingman from calling himself reverend when he left jail.

'That's correct (and) indeed whilst he was in jail,' Mr Gerber replied.

Mr Beckett said Kitchingman could 'represent to the world' that he remained ordained.

'You didn't consider that there was a particular danger to that in terms of ... both reputation for the Anglican Church but also in terms of those people who would come in contact with him?' he asked.

Mr Gerber said he now agreed with Mr Beckett, but argued the Grafton diocese was dealing with matters internally.

'I'm very regretful of that and in retrospect looking back certainly if it had been a Sydney person I would have acted decisively,' he said.

Mr Gerber also expressed remorse about not referring a letter detailing sexual and physical abuse allegations against staff at the Lismore home to the police.

Abuse survivor Richard 'Tommy' Campion sent the letter.

'I am very unhappy with myself I didn't take the sort of steps that you are talking about,' Mr Gerber told the commission.

'... and am quite embarrassed and apologise that it might have potentially put other people at risk, children and other vulnerable people at risk.

'I'm appalled my actions might have caused that.'

The hearing continues.

 

 

 

 

 




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