NEW ZEALAND
Radio New Zealand
The Anglican church is justifying its decision to stand down a senior priest over two affairs he had 25 years ago.
Reverend Michael Godfrey, 56, said he was sexually assaulted just days before the affairs, which were a misguided attempt to find comfort after the attack.
Reverend Michael GodfreyReverend Michael Godfrey Photo: Facebook
The highly-ranked priest said he had two separate extramarital affairs during a 10-day period while working in Australia in 1991. He was assaulted by a man just 10 days before the first affair.
In a statement, the Anglican Church said Reverend Michael Godfrey was removed from his position as Dean of Waiapu Cathedral for a historic matter that – while not illegal – breached the church’s rules.
Dr Godfrey, 56, thinks the church made the wrong decision, but the church said he had been removed because his affairs breached church rules and were not reported to the right people at the time.
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