Number of Abusive Priests on Anglican Register a 'Fraction of True Figure'

By Dan Box
The Australian
November 27, 2013

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/in-depth/number-of-abusive-priests-on-anglican-register-a-fraction-of-true-figure/story-fngburq5-1226769627879



MORE than 100 Anglican priests are known to have allegedly committed child sexual abuse or other sexual misconduct, yet this number could be only a fraction of the true total, the royal commission has heard.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has heard that dozens and possibly hundreds of other allegedly abusive priests have yet to be entered into the church's national register of such claims.

The Anglican church's general secretary, Martin Drevikovsky, told the commission that hundreds of historical files of alleged abuse are currently being reviewed, while technical problems have also hampered the updating of information on the current system.

"Lack of resources is an issue ... That's a matter for each diocese to assess what their need is and to meet that need," Mr Drevikovsky said.

The commission has heard that 129 priests are currently named on the register, and the Anglican church estimates at least 40 more will need to be included.

Other church officials are also reluctant to enter the names of priests who may be under criminal investigation, the commission heard, as that individual is then automatically notified, potentially compromising any police operation

The name of at least one priest, who has twice been convicted of indecently assaulting a teenage boy, does not currently appear on the register, the commission heard.

"The evidence we now have leaves us ... with a considerable difficulty with both the reliability and practicality of the current operation of the register," commission chair Peter McClellan said.

Mr Drevikovsky said the church was working to improve the system, including an overhaul of the software, which he hoped would be in place by next year.