AUSTRALIA
The Border Mail
THE sex abuse victim who helped push former governor-general Peter Hollingworth from office says the Anglican Church still fails to understand her plight.
Beth Heinrich has rejected a $100,000 compensation offer from the church after being sexually abused in the 1950s by Anglican priest Donald Shearman at a church boarding school at Forbes.
Just before Dr Hollingworths appointment as governor-general in April, 2001, Ms Heinrich approached the then Brisbane Anglican archbishop for assistance.
She said he had fobbed her off, suggesting she had in fact instigated the abuse.
In 2002, Dr Hollingworth, on ABC televisions Australian Story, appeared to condone the sexual relationship between Mr Shearman and the then 15-year-old girl in his care, saying it was “not sex abuse” and she was not a victim.