By Michael Edwards
ABC
November 1, 2007
http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/01/2078884.htm?section=australia
A man sexually assaulted by an Anglican clergyman says he is incredulous that his abuser has not automatically been stripped of his status as a minister.
Robert Francis Sharwood was found guilty last year of sexually abusing the then 13-year-old boy hundreds of times when he was working at a Brisbane diocese in the 1970s.
Sharwood is set to be released from prison shortly and the Anglican Church is considering whether he can remain in the ministry.
The process includes an invitation for the victim to give evidence and be cross-examined by his abuser.
The victim says the process proves the Anglican Church still does not comprehend the real impact of sexual abuse.
At his trial, it was heard Sharwood sexually abused the boy 300 times. The abuse was detected by the boy's father who reported it to the church authorities.
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| The Anglican Church is considering whether convicted sex offender Robert Francis Sharwood can remain in the ministry Photo by Keith Sutherland |
The priest was counselled, but allowed to remain in his position.
That 13-year-old boy is now a 46-year-old man, who spoke to the ABC's AM program about the effect the abuse has had on his life.
"It's led to problems with adult relationships, not just within family but in work situations as well," he said.
"There's also the spiritual aspect, so that even though I haven't ever lost my faith in God, its practical outworking in daily life has been difficult."
Due process
The Anglican Diocese of Brisbane is presently considering Sharwood's status as a priest.
Sharwood has been deregistered but he still holds what are known as 'holy orders', that is, in the eyes of the church he is still a priest.
As part of the church's process the victim has the option of giving evidence against Sharwood again, but if he does, he also face the prospect of being cross examined by his abuser.
"I didn't mind attending the hearing, and to provide information to the hearing, but I would refuse to be cross-examined by a convicted person," the man said.
"Particularly when it's my own abuser, I mean that's just ridiculous."
It is understood there is little chance of Sharwood being able to work in any Australian diocese ever again, but the option is there that he can retain his status as a priest.
The victim's wife has become an advocate for sufferers of clergy abuse.
"They should be deposed of their holy orders automatically, for life, without right of appeal," she said.
"They have known before they have committed any offences, that what they do is against the law, and it is against God's law as well."
Brisbane's Archbishop Phillip Aspinall has a strong record on dealing with sexual abuse problems within the church.
He says he personally does not want any priest convicted of abuse to minister again.
However, a church spokesman told AM that due process has to be followed in Robert Sharwood's case.
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