Diocese Regrets ‘error’ but Praises Admission

Daily Examiner
May 18, 2013

http://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/news/diocese-regrets-error-but-praises-admission/1872972/

GENUINE APOLOGY: Archdeacon Greg Ezzy.

THE Anglican Diocese of Grafton said while it regretted Bishop Keith Slater's "error in judgment", it commended "his honest acknowledgment of mistakes in this regard".

Following the resignation of the Right Reverend Keith Slater as Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Grafton yesterday, Archdeacon Greg Ezzy will fulfil the role of administrator until the appointment of a new bishop.

Archdeacon Ezzy said the diocese was satisfied that action had been taken to fix past mistakes and it will act on any identified in the future.

"We regret the serious error of judgment made by Bishop Keith Slater when he responded to complaints of abuse which occurred at the North Coast Children's Home some decades ago but we commend our bishop for his honest acknowledgement of mistakes in this regard," Archdeacon Ezzy said.

"We support the genuine apology he has made to survivors of abuse. We affirm him in his generosity and courage in resigning his episcopate as an expression of the serious effects that these decisions may have brought about for some of those survivors.

"Along with our bishop we grieve for those who continue to suffer as a result of past abuse.

"We acknowledge with sadness that the protocols which the diocese had put in place to serve the best interests, legally and pastorally, of any survivors of abuse, were not followed and therefore survivors of abuse were not provided with the most appropriate support to facilitate their healing.

"We are committed to ensuring that protocols will always be followed. We are developing a new approach to responding to those who come forward so that they are fully supported in their journey to healing."