Newcastle royal commission public hearing to reveal widespread abuse in Anglican diocese

By Joanne Mccarthy
Newcastle Herald
July 31, 2016

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4063337/abusers-known-but-not-stopped/

Not stopped: Father Peter Rushton has been acknowledged by the Anglican Church as a serial child sex abuser.

MEN and women involved with Newcastle Anglican diocese’s St Alban’s Children’s Home knew children were being sexually abused, the royal commission will hear.

A public hearing starting on Tuesday is expected to hear evidence that a woman walked into a room more than once where a child was being sexually abused by men, but turned and left the room.

The extent of sexual abuse of children by two men – priest Peter Rushton and youth worker James Brown – is expected to be revealed, along with knowledge within the diocese of that offending.

Former Church of England Boys Brigade members have made statements to police about sexual abuse while on camps. One former member told police about a “f...ing room” at the boys home where Rushton took him and molested him.

The public hearing will be told of child sex allegations about Rushton and others made directly to bishops and senior clergy, but not acted on.

Newcastle Bishop Greg Thompson will give evidence of abuse by Bishop Ian Shevill and another senior clergyman while he was a devout teenager considering becoming a priest.