Perth Archbishop Roger Herft Resigns after Admitting to Let down Sex Abuse Survivors

ABC News
December 15, 2016

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-15/anglican-archbishop-of-perth-roger-herft-to-retire/8125640

One of the country's most senior church figures, the Anglican Archbishop of Perth Roger Herft, has resigned after admitting he let down survivors of sexual abuse.

Reverend Herft had been Archbishop of Perth since 2005, but stood aside in October this year to "focus my attention on the royal commission's ongoing inquiry into the Diocese of Newcastle".

He gave evidence at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in August, and finished his testimony with an apology to the people of Newcastle, where he served as bishop between 1993 and 2005.

"I let them down badly.

"[I have] let down the survivors in a way that remorse itself is a very poor emotion to express."

Archbishop Herft thanked the royal commission for holding him "personally accountable" during the hearing, which stretched over two weeks in the New South Wales city.

At the time 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.

PHOTO: Newcastle's Anglican Christ Church Cathedral. (ABC News: Dan Cox)

The Archbishop also 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," he said.

Reverend Herft has been on long service leave since finishing his royal commission testimony, and will take accrued leave until he retires in July.

In a statement issued by the Anglican Diocese of Perth, the Church thanked the Archbishop for his 43 years of service.

It said a successor would be appointed in early 2017.