AUSTRALIA
CQ News
THE Grafton Anglican Diocese had access to more than $200 million in assets when it refused to pay out less than $4 million to victims of child sex abuse, the royal commission has heard.
The revelation came just moments before former registrar Pat Comben surprisingly announced he had voluntarily relinquished holy orders and was no longer a reverend of the Anglican Church.
During yesterday’s cross-examination, Mr Comben, who last week told the commission the diocese had felt threatened by the “scary” group claim being brought by former residents of Lismore’s North Coast Children’s Home, was quizzed about a significant jump in the diocese’s recorded equity between 2005 and 2007.
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