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	Priest Defrocked for Child Sex Abuse NEWS.com.au August 27, 2008 http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24249264-29277,00.html THE Anglican Church has defrocked a Brisbane priest convicted of child sex abuse. The church today confirmed it had deposed Robert Francis Sharwood from his holy orders. Sharwood, 62, of Brisbane, was jailed for 12 months in November 2006, after being found guilty of sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy in Brisbane more than 30 years ago. He was released from jail in November last year. Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane Philip Aspinall removed Sharwood's licence to operate as a priest in the diocese in 2002, however, he remained an ordained minister. The church's professional standards board, presided over by Justice Debra Mullins, recommended in March after a public hearing that Sharwood's holy orders be removed. Sharwood then exercised his legal right to a review of that decision. The review determined that the appeal against the board's recommendation be dismissed. Bishop John Parkes, who is acting for Dr Aspinall while he is on leave, said today he had now formally accepted the recommendation of the board and deposed Sharwood from his holy orders. "The archbishop has repeatedly apologised to victims of sexual abuse by members of the church and today I repeat that apology to the victims in this case," Bishop Parkes said in a statement. "Archbishop Aspinall has previously said that the victims deserved nothing less than a thorough and just process that arrives at a proper decision. That has now been completed."
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