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Child Sexual Abuse Royal Commission: Former Adelaide Archbishop Says He Should Have Done More to Help Victims

By Peta Carlyon
ABC News
February 3, 2016

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-03/ex-adelaide-archbishop-should-have-done-more-help-abuse-victims/7138026

PHOTO: Anglican Archbishop of Adelaide Ian George resigned over his handling of child sex abuse claims in 2004. (ABC News)

Former Archbishop of Adelaide Ian George has told the child abuse royal commission he should have done more to help victims.

Bishop George told the hearing of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Hobart, he felt "a deep sense of remorse" the Church did not protect children from notorious paedophile Robert Brandenburg.

Brandenburg took his own life in 1999, days before facing court on 365 charges of child abuse.

Bishop George acknowledged the Church "provided an avenue and an opportunity" for Brandenburg to abuse while failing victims and their families.

"I now understand and accept that I could have done more to reach out and assist survivors," he said.

"I regret that survivors were deprived of the timely pastoral care which they were entitled to expect.

"I'm sorry that further harm has been caused to survivors and their families as a result of my failure to act as I should have."

Former Brisbane Archbishop 'deeply sorry' for his response

Bishop George was Archbishop of Adelaide between 1991 and 2004.

He told the commission he had only known Brandenburg "in passing" before becoming Archbishop, and even then he had "no direct contact with him ... except a passing hello in the car park, as the Anglicare office was next to the diocese".

But Bishop George said his "failure to name Brandenburg publicly" even after suspicions were raised about the extent of his abuse, was "an error of judgment on my behalf".

"I was hesitant to make the situation public," he said in his statement.

"On reflection this was a serious error of judgment.

PHOTO: Former governor-general Peter Hollingworth has apologised at the child sex abuse royal commission in Hobart. (ABC News)

"I will always feel a profound sadness that under my leadership the diocese did not take action more quickly to develop procedures which would assist the survivors of Brandenburg's abuse."

Bishop George went to police in 2003 about concerns a paedophile ring was operating in the diocese.

Bishop George is the latest in a line of senior Anglican clergyman in Australia to apologise to victims of an alleged paedophile ring operating within the Church of England Boys Society between the 1960s and the 1990s.

Although not appearing as a witness at the royal commission, current Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Sydney Glenn Davies flew to Hobart last week to apologise to victims.

Former Brisbane Archbishop Peter Hollingworth issued a public apology to a victim at the commission this morning over his handling of an abuse complaint in the 1990s.

He later resigned as Australia's governor-general over the incident.

Brandenburg was a long-time CEBS leader, and held the position of South Australian chief commissioner in the 1970s and manager of campsites in the 1980s.

It is estimated he abused at least 80 boys.

The hearing continues.

 

 

 

 

 




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