Perth Anglican Archbishop 'seeking counsel' over his future

By Nick Butterly
West Australian
September 08, 2016

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/32559947/herft-considers-future/#page1

Archbishop Roger Herft conducts an Easter service at the St Georges Cathedral.

In his first public statement since appearing before the royal commission into child abuse, Perth Anglican Archbishop Roger Herft said he would seek the counsel of colleagues “in coming weeks”.

Archbishop Herft served as the Bishop of Newcastle between 1993 and 2005.

He admitted to the royal commission last month he had been told three times that the defrocked dean of Newcastle Graeme Lawrence had sexually abused children, yet failed to report the information to police.

Archbishop Herft told the commission he gave “incorrect” evidence when he testified previously that no one raised issues of concern with him about Mr Lawrence. In a post on his website, Archbishop Herft said he was conscious of the impact the hearings were having on the survivors of abuse.

“While I remain on long service leave, in coming weeks I will seek the counsel of my colleagues and members of the Diocese of Perth,” he said.

“I ask that you continue to pray for the survivors of child sexual abuse across our nation.”

The commission also heard evidence Archbishop Herft had been warned paedophile priest Peter Rushton had been in possession of child pornography, but he recommended only that Rushton be given spiritual counselling.

Under NSW law it is an offence to withhold information about a serious crime.

During his final day on the witness stand, Archbishop Herft thanked the Royal Commission for keeping him personally accountable and said hoped the Anglican church would become more transparent and accountable.

During his time as the head of the Perth church, Archbishop Herft has spoken out on the treatment of refugees through his role as a member of the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce.