Defrocking of negligent bishop in child abuse case ‘null and void’, by Michael Mckenna, Australian (January 26, 2017)

The defrocking of a former Anglican bishop for his mishandling of child abuse complaints has been overturned by a ruling that has led to high-level calls for an overhaul of the church’s disciplinary system.

Former bishop of Grafton Keith Slater was deposed from holy orders in 2015 for failing to follow church protocol in handling historical abuse claims at a children’s home in Lismore, northeast NSW, and keeping Newcastle priest Allan Kitchingman in the clergy despite convictions for child sex offences.

Mr Slater, now living in Queensland after retiring as bishop in 2013, was also found to have failed to report abuse allegations to police as recently as 2011. He was deposed after an internal investigation following damning evidence in 2013 at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse over his handling of abuse claims.

Despite admitting most of the alleged misconduct, Mr Slater appealed to the Appellate Tribunal of the Anglican Church of Australia.

Last week, the tribunal found that because Mr Slater had already resigned as a bishop, the body that ultimately investigated his behaviour did not have the jurisdiction to recommend his deposition from holy orders. The defrocking was ruled “null and void’’.

Bishop of Grafton Sarah Macneil issued a statement to The Australian yesterday confirming the decision and saying it showed the need for reform within the church.

“I am disappointed that the professional standards legislation put in place by the diocese of Grafton, on the recommendation of the national church, has been shown in this case to be deficient and that our legislation does not appear to be applicable in some cases,” Dr Macneil said. “We will be working with the relevant bodies in the church to ensure that all people who have positions of authority and leadership can be held accountable.”

A former Lismore children’s home abuse victim and campaigner for justice, Tommy Campion, said the shock reinstatement of Mr Slater was ‘‘the most ridiculous thing’’ he had ever heard.

Mr Campion told The Australian that the church had promised that Bishop Slater’s deposition from holy orders was final and could not be appealed.

Dr Macneil acknowledged to Mr Campion yesterday that “this decision will come as a shock and bitter disappointment for you and others who closely linked the deposition of Keith Slater with justice for victims of the North Coast’s Children’s Home”.

“I am dismayed that a process we believed to be sound has been found not to be ...”