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	Sex Priests Fight for Holy Orders By Margaret Scheikowski 9 News May 24, 2011 http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8253091/sex-priests-fight-for-holy-orders Two Anglican priests are challenging moves to strip them of their holy orders after findings of sexual misconduct involving a teenage boy in 1984. The case of the now-suspended rector of Cardiff, the Reverend Graeme Leslie Sturt, 60, and the retired dean of Newcastle, Graeme Russell Lawrence, 68, began in the NSW Supreme Court on Monday. It relates to a Newcastle Diocese Professional Standards Board hearing and findings that were made last December. The court action is against Bishop of Newcastle Brian Farrand and 10 other defendants including members of the board. The board recommended to Dr Farrand that the two men be "deposed from holy orders", meaning they would be banned from officiating or acting in any manner as priest and cease to have any rights attached to the position. Among their claims, which the defendants deny, the two priests allege the board proceedings were conducted in "circumstances of oppression and unfairness" and legal errors were made. The board found proven certain allegations, including that of an incident with a teenage boy, "M", in a motel room during an Anglican seminar at Narrandera, in the state's south, in 1984. Mr Sturt was found to have observed Mr Lawrence sexually abusing the teenager, according to documents before the court. The board also found that if Mr Sturt had intervened "it is likely that there would not have been a continuation of sexual abuse of (M) as an adult by (Mr) Lawrence". Police investigated the allegations, which the priests denied, and did not lay charges. The priests did not take part in the board hearings last December, after the board refused to hear the case in private, and were not present when the findings were delivered. Much of the legal argument in the Supreme Court before Justice John Sacker relates to contracts, the Anglican Church of Australia Constitutions Acts and disciplinary procedures. The hearing is continuing.
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