Anglican deacon suspended over sex claim

NEW ZEALAND
The Northern Advocate

Mike Barrington | Wednesday, May 2, 2012

A Northland bishop has suspended an Anglican Church deacon after what the bishop says are false claims about a child sex abuser.

Deacon Tapu Laulu pulled 18 children out of a church camp after spotting a man that he had been told was a child sex abuser.

However, the man – who is known to Paihia-based Bishop of Tai Tokerau, the Rt Rev Te Kitohi Pikaahu – has never been charged or convicted of the alleged offence.

Bishop Pikaahu – has claimed the alleged sexual offending was based on a 16-year-old rumour concerning two people who were teenagers at the time.

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