Anglican Bishop acts over report into sexual abuse claims, by Duncan Abey, Mercury (February 13, 2017)

THE Anglican Bishop of Tasmania has launched an investigation into the response of former church leader Bishop Philip Newell to complaints of sexual abuse by clergy.

The inquiry comes in the wake of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse’s report on the Church of England Boys’ Society operations in Tasmania.

The report, released on Monday, detailed systematic issues in the operation of the Church of England Boys’ Society in the 1970s and ’80s in Tasmania — as well as in Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney — and followed days of public hearings in Hobart early last year.

The report found abuse often occurred on camps and sailing trips and senior Church of England Boys’ Society organisers were left to operate autonomously within the organisation, which was attended by boys aged between six and 16.

The report criticised Bishop Newell for failing to adequately deal with multiple complaints of sexual abuse from young Church of England Boys’ Society members against priest Louis Daniels, who was eventually defrocked and jailed for his crimes.

“Bishop Newell verbally rebuked Daniels in June 1987 and sought his assurance that the conduct had not been repeated,” the report stated.

“Given that three boys were involved, it is difficult to understand how Bishop Newell could be assured the conduct would not be repeated. Daniels remained in the ministry and the police were not informed of the allegations.

“While Bishop Newell said he required Daniels to cease his involvement with CEBS, the evidence establishes that Daniels continued his involvement with CEBS.”

Bishop Richard Condie said the report’s criticism of Bishop Newell’s response to victims’ complaints had triggered a formal church investigation. Bishop Condie said he was deeply saddened by the failures of the church and apologised to those who continued to be affected.

“Given the serious nature of the findings in the royal commission report, swift action is warranted, which is why I have acted today,” he said.

“The discipline process involves an investigative period, where evidence will be examined, and Bishop Newell will have an opportunity to put his defence.

“If the formal investigation recommends that charges be laid, the church’s disciplinary tribunal will be convened to hear the matter.”

The report identified a number of systemic issues within the Church of England Boys’ Society, including child sexual abuse being treated as isolated incidents of aberrant behaviour, the minimisation of such offending and a focus on protecting the reputation of the church and individual clergy.