Church Stopped Keeping Problem-priest List

By Annette Blackwell
Echo Netdaily
August 5, 2016

http://www.echo.net.au/2016/08/church-stopped-keeping-problem-priest-list/

Christ Church Cathedral in Newcastle. AAP Image/Darren Pateman

A former assistant bishop at a NSW Anglican diocese where child sex abuse by clergy was widespread will continue his evidence to a royal commission on Friday.

Bishop Richard Appleby, who served as auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Newcastle in the Hunter region of NSW from 1983 to 1992, said on Thursday he was not aware during that time of allegations of child sex abuse against clergy and lay workers in the diocese.

A child sex abuse victim has given evidence that he spoke with Bishop Appleby in 1984 about being abused by a parish priest.

Bishop Appleby, who spent several hours in the witness stand on Thursday, told the commission that before 1985 there was a ‘caveat list’ where the names of clergy who commit serious offences could be recorded.

He had been asked how so many child abusers could make it through screening processes to become licensed clergy.

The list, used by bishops to check on job applicants, was abandoned in 1985 for legal reasons and it was 20 years before the church introduced a register to serve the same purpose, Bishop Appleby said.

The Bishop was also asked at St John’s College at Morpeth where he studied theology.

The commission has been told the college – a seminary for Anglican priests – was referred to as ‘Satan’s playground’ because of the number of pedophile priests who studied there.

Bishop Appleby said he only became aware years after he left Newcastle there had been a problem with sexual activities on campus.

While he was at Morpeth there was nothing to suggest a culture which was encouraging ‘inappropriate sexual relationships’, he said.

After Bishop Appleby completes his evidence on Friday, Keith Allen, a solicitor who is a former trustee and member of the diocesan council, will give evidence.

The commission has heard Mr Allen represented some priests who were charged with sexual offences against children.

For more about the commission visit childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au