AUSTRALIA
Sky News
By the early 2000s most victims approaching Tasmania’s Anglican church complaining of sexual abuse by priests were seeking financial assistance, a royal commission has been told.
Bishop John Douglas Harrower was the leader of the diocese of Tasmania for 15 years from July 2000 and one of his first moves in the job was to make a public apology for child-sex offences linked to the church.
“I was made aware of what had happened and I thought it was horrendous and I felt it was important to make an apology,” Bishop Harrower said in evidence to the commission on Tuesday.
Subsequently the bishop received 10 complaints from 10 men about their childhood abuse by former priest Garth Hawkins.
While police were investigating the matters, Bishop Harrower said the church could take no disciplinary action against suspects but moved to offer support to the victims by funding counselling and other support.
– See more at: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/local/hobart/2016/02/02/bishop-sought-funds-for-sex-abuse-victims.html#sthash.1cdU8ZWH.dpuf
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