Bishop Who Was Sexually Abused As a Teenager Still Has the Portrait of the Minister Who Molested Him Hanging in His Church

By Steven Trask
Daily Mail
July 20, 2016

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3700602/Ian-Shevill-s-portrait-hangs-Greg-Thompson-Newcastle-Anglican-Church.html

The portrait of a prolific sexual predator still hangs in the church where one of his victims now preaches.

Bishop of Newcastle Greg Thompson was sexually abused as a teenager by Ian Shevill, a celebrated priest who led the church in the 1970s.

Shevill was just one of the sexual predators inside the church who abused children in an infamous Anglican paedophile ring that was covered up for decades,The ABC reported.

This portrait of former Bishop of Newcastle Ian Shevill (pictured) still hangs at Christ Church. Shevill sexually abused the current Bishop of Newcastle, Greg Thompson

Right Reverend Thompson was named Bishop of Newcastle in 2013 and leads the church as it faces a historic government investigation into child sexual abuse.

A black and white portrait of Shevill, his abuser, hangs in the church's gallery alongside other infamous paedophiles such as Father Peter Rushton, the Archdeacon of Maitland.

Bishop Thompson said his abuse at the hands of Shevill had inspired him to tackle the once-taboo issue of paedophilia within his own church.

He told the ABC: 'The offending affected me significantly and it still does.

'It affects the way I see myself but it has also galvanised me not to turn a blind eye to these matters.

Bishop of Newcastle Greg Thompson (pictured) was sexually abused as he entered the priesthood as a teenager

At 19 years of age Bishop Thompson was sexually abused by Shevill, a powerful priest who led the church from 1973 to 1977.

Michael Elliot, an ex-detective tasked with investigating the church's history of sexual abuse, said Shevill groomed boys who showed an interest in the priesthood.

He told the ABC: 'Shevill used to take men nude bathing… In some cases they were tested as to whether they were open to sexually deviant behaviour.'

A Royal Commission into a history of sexual abuse at the Newcastle Anglican Church will being in August

On August 2 a Royal Commission into sexual abuse at the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle will begin.

The inquiry will hear from victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by members of the church.

Bishop Thompson said his own experiences had motivated him to speak out at the inquiry.

He told Fairfax Media: 'There will be people who'll discount what I say because of what has happened to me.

'They'll believe that everything I do is because of some kind of working out of my experience.

'It's true, but it's not the only reason I'm doing it.'