AUSTRALIA
The West Australian
Nick Butterly – The West Australian on September 8, 2016
In his first public statement since appearing before the royal commission into child abuse, Perth Anglican Archbishop Roger Herft said he would seek the counsel of colleagues “in coming weeks”.
Archbishop Herft served as the Bishop of Newcastle between 1993 and 2005.
He admitted to the royal commission last month he had been told three times that the defrocked dean of Newcastle Graeme Lawrence had sexually abused children, yet failed to report the information to police.
Archbishop Herft told the commission he gave “incorrect” evidence when he testified previously that no one raised issues of concern with him about Mr Lawrence. In a post on his website, Archbishop Herft said he was conscious of the impact the hearings were having on the survivors of abuse.
“While I remain on long service leave, in coming weeks I will seek the counsel of my colleagues and members of the Diocese of Perth,” he said.
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