AUSTRALIA
ABC News
By Anne Connolly
One of the nation’s most senior Anglicans, the Archbishop of Perth, Roger Herft, received complaints about a priest involved in a paedophile ring but allegedly failed to formally report him to police, according to an Anglican Church insider.
7.30 has obtained a confidential note showing Archbishop Herft received a complaint about Father Peter Rushton’s abuse when they both worked in the Hunter region of New South Wales in 2002.
Archbishop Herft wrote that the complaint “left me in an unenviable position” because “Father Peter had my licence [to be a priest] and if he reoffended I would be held liable as I now had prior knowledge of his alleged behaviour”.
Director of professional standards for the Newcastle diocese, Michael Elliott, said there was no record of Archbishop Herft contacting police about allegations regarding Rushton.
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