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Archbishop Roger Herft tells child abuse royal commission he 'let down' victims
By David Marchese
One of Australia's most senior Anglicans, the Archbishop of Perth, Roger Herft, has told a royal commission he "let down" survivors of child sexual abuse. Archbishop Herft has wrapped up his evidence at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse after three days in the witness box. The Archbishop finished his testimony with an apology to the people of Newcastle, where he served as Bishop between 1993 and 2005. "I've become aware that the sacred trust that the people of this region placed upon me, I have let them down," he said.
The royal commission's 42nd case study is probing the response to widespread paedophile activity in Newcastle's Anglican Church spanning several decades. On Monday, Archbishop Herft told the royal commission he could not recall large parts of his time in Newcastle, including conversations about allegations of child abuse involving priests under his management. Hopes church will be 'woken up' by abuse storiesArchbishop Herft thanked the royal commission for holding him "personally accountable" during the hearing, which has stretched over two weeks in the New South Wales city. He described how he had developed a "much more realistic view" of the priesthood in recent years. "I had a very high view which has been questioned within the last several years," he said. The Archbishop added that he hoped first-hand accounts from survivors would lead to widespread change within the Anglican Church. "I hope that the church in this diocese and the church across the Australian continent will be one that is not only woken up but will become more and more transparent and accountable to the lost and the most vulnerable." Church chancellor grilled over conflict of interestThe royal commission hearing continued with the evidence of former chancellor for Newcastle's Anglican diocese, Paul Rosser, QC. The commission heard Mr Rosser represented a priest accused of child abuse in 2001 while working for the diocese of Newcastle. He admitted the complainant may have thought the church was "ganging up on him", given the priest was also being represented by former church official Keith Allen. Mr Rosser was also questioned about his decision to represent James Brown, a youth worker in the Newcastle diocese later convicted for child sex offences. Counsel assisting the commission Naomi Sharp raised concerns. "Did you give any consideration at all as to whether ... it was appropriate for you to accept instructions from James Brown?" Mr Rosser replied that he had no choice because of "the bar rules", adding "we can't pick and choose". Ms Sharp persisted:
Mr Rosser conceded that may have been true but insisted he did not believe he had a choice in the matter. Church 'factions' see move against current BishopThe commission heard Newcastle's Anglican diocese is made up of "factions", with differing views on the running of the church. Former diocesan solicitor Robert Caddies denied there was a "bloc" within the cathedral seeking to undermine the current Newcastle Bishop Greg Thompson. Ms Sharp put it to Mr Caddies the power bloc was in favour of the defrocked former Dean of Newcastle, Graeme Lawrence. But Mr Caddies admitted he was one of the signatories to a letter sent to the royal commission earlier this year raising "grave concerns" about Bishop Thompson. "Our concerns relate to the behaviour of and statements made by the current Bishop," the letter read. Commission chair, Justice Peter McClellan, asked Mr Caddies whether the letter was "appropriate" and whether he was trying to challenge the credibility of Bishop Thompson. Mr Caddies said that was not his intention. The royal commission hearing into Newcastle's Anglican diocese has been adjourned until November, when it will move to Sydney. A hearing into Newcastle's Catholic church begins tomorrow.
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